sail
(sāl)
[Middle English seil, from Old English segl, Sail into, from obsolete sail, to attack, from Middle English sailen, short for assailen; see assail.]
noun
- Nautical
- A piece of fabric sewn together and fitted to the spars and rigging of a vessel so as to convert the force of the wind into forward motion of the vessel.
- The sails of a ship or boat.
- The superstructure of a submarine.
- Nautical A sailing vessel.
- Nautical A trip or voyage in a sailing craft.
- Something, such as the blade of a windmill, that resembles a sail in form or function.
verb: sailed, sail·ing, sails.
intransitive verb
- Nautical
- To move across the surface of water, especially by means of a sailing vessel.
- To travel by water in a vessel.
- To start out on such a voyage or journey.
- To operate a sailing craft, especially for sport.
- To move along or progress smoothly or effortlessly: sailed into the room five minutes late; sailed through the exam; sailed through the red light.
transitive verb
Nautical
- To navigate or manage (a vessel).
- To voyage upon or across: sail the Pacific.
phrasal verbs
- sail into
- To attack or criticize vigorously: sailed into the workmen for the shoddy job they were doing.