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   sail

   /seɪl/

   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"
   • ▪ the use of sailing ships as a means of transport: "this led to bigger ships as steam replaced sail"
   • ▪ a sailing ship: archaic "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.
   • 3. a voyage or excursion in a ship, especially a sailing ship or boat: "they went for a sail"
   • 4. the conning tower of a submarine.
   • 5. a canvas sheet or tarpaulin: South African "the sail covering the load of crates broke loose from the truck"

   verb

   • 1. travel in a boat with sails, especially as a sport or recreation: "Ian took us out sailing on the lake" Similar yachtboatgo sailingcrewhelmskipper a boat
   • ▪ travel in a ship or boat using sails or engine power: "the ferry caught fire sailing between Caen and Portsmouth" Similar go by watergo by seago on a sea voyagevoyagesteamnavigatecruiseride the waves
   • ▪ begin a voyage; leave a harbour: "the catamaran sails at 3:30" Similar set sailput to seaput out (to sea)leave portleave dockleave harbourhoist sailraise sailweigh anchorput offshove off
   • ▪ travel by ship on or across (a sea) or on (a route): "plastic ships could be sailing the oceans soon" Similar go by watergo by seago on a sea voyagevoyagesteamnavigatecruiseride the waves
   • ▪ navigate or control (a boat or ship): "I stole a small fishing boat and sailed it to the Delta" Similar steercaptainpilotskippernavigateconhelm
   • 2. move smoothly and rapidly or in a stately or confident manner: "the ball sailed inside the right-hand post" Similar glidedriftfloatflowslideslipsweepskimcoastskatebreezeflitwhizzspeedstreakshootwhipwhooshbuzzzoomflashblastcareerflywingkiteskitescudinformal:scorchtearzapzipsoarwingwing its waytake to the airflyascendmountclimbarccurve
   • ▪ succeed easily at (something, especially a test or examination): informal "Ali sailed through his exams"
   • ▪ attack physically or verbally with force. informal

   Word Origin Old Englishsegel (noun), seglian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zeil and German Segel (nouns).

   Derivatives

   • 1. sailable adjective
   • 2. sailless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 4

   • S

     1

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

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