English▸ noun
1 a piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship or other vessel:
all the sails were unfurled
[mass noun] the boat can no longer carry that area of sail.
▪ [mass noun] the use of sailing ships as a means of transport:
this led to bigger ships as steam replaced sail.
▪ archaic a sailing ship:
sail ahoy!.
2 a wind-catching apparatus attached to the arm of a windmill.
▪ the broad fin on the back of a sailfish or of some prehistoric reptiles.
▪ a structure by which an animal is propelled across the surface of water by the wind, e.g. the float of a Portuguese man-of-war.
5 South African English a canvas sheet or tarpaulin:
the sail covering the load of crates broke loose from the truck.
[loan translation, based on Dutch seil ‘tarpaulin’]
▸ verb [no object]
1 travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation:
Ian took us out sailing on the lake.
▪ [with adverbial] travel in a ship or boat using sails or engine power:
the ferry caught fire sailing between Caen and Portsmouth.
▪ [with adverbial] begin a voyage; leave a harbour:
the catamaran sails at 3:30.
▪ [with object] travel by ship on or across (a sea) or on (a route):
plastic ships could be sailing the oceans soon.
▪ [with object and adverbial of direction] navigate or control (a boat or ship):
I stole a small fishing boat and sailed it to the Delta.
2 [with adverbial of direction] move smoothly and rapidly or in a stately or confident manner:
the ball sailed inside the right-hand post.
▪ (sail through) informal succeed easily at (something, especially a test or examination):
Ali sailed through his exams.
▪ (sail into) informal attack physically or verbally with force.
– ORIGIN Old English segel (noun), seglian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zeil and German Segel (nouns).