an embossed emblem, figure, symbol, word, letter, etc., used as attestation or evidence of authenticity.
2.
a stamp, medallion, ring, etc., engraved with such a device, for impressing paper, wax, lead, or the like: The king took the seal from his finger and applied it to the document.
3.
the impression so obtained: It was unmistakably the royal seal on the document.
4.
a mark or symbol attached to a legal document and imparting a formal character to it, originally wax with an impression.
5.
a piece of wax or similar adhesive substance so attached to an envelope, folded document, etc., that it must be broken when the object is opened, insuring that the contents have not been tampered with or altered.
6.
anything that tightly or completely closes or secures a thing, as closures or fastenings for doors and railroad cars, adhesive stamps and tapes used to secure the flap of an envelope, etc.
7.
something that keeps a thing secret: Her vow was the seal that kept her silent.
8.
a decorative stamp, esp. as given to contributors to a charitable fund: a Christmas seal.
9.
a mark, sign, symbol, or the like, serving as visible evidence of something.
10.
anything that serves as assurance, confirmation, or bond: She gave the plan her seal of approval.
11.
Plumbing.
a.
a small amount of water held by a trap to exclude foul gases from a sewer or the like.
b.
the depth of the part of the water that actually excludes the gases.
12.
the seals, British. the tokens or signs of public office.
–verb (used with object)
13.
to affix a seal to in authorization, testimony, etc.
14.
to assure, confirm, or bind with or as if with a seal: They sealed the bargain with a handshake.
15.
to impress a seal upon as evidence of legal or standard exactness, measure, quality, etc.
16.
to close by any form of fastening that must be broken before access can be gained.
17.
to fasten or close tightly by or as if by a seal: She was sealing envelopes. My lips are sealed.
18.
to decide irrevocably: to seal someone's fate.
19.
to grant under one's seal or authority, as a pardon.
20.
Mormon Church. to make (a marriage or adoption) forever binding; solemnize.
21.
Electricity. to bring (a plug and jack or socket) into locked or fully aligned position.
—Verb phrase
22.
seal off,
a.
to close hermetically: to seal off a jar.
b.
to block (an entrance, area, etc.) completely so as to prevent escape or entrance: The police sealed off the area after the bomb threat was received.
—Idiom
23.
set one's seal to, to give one's approval to; authorize; endorse: Both families have set their seal to the marriage.
[Origin: 1175–1225; (n.) ME seel,seil(e), seale mark on a document, token < OF seel (F sceau) < LL *sigellum, L sigillum, dim. of signumsign; r. ME seil, OE (in)segel seal < LL, as above; (v.) sealen, seilen < OF seeler, seieler, deriv. of seel]
any of numerous marine carnivores of the suborder Pinnipedia, including the eared or fur seals, as the sea lion, and the earless or hair seals, as the harbor seal.
A die or signet having a raised or incised emblem used to stamp an impression on a receptive substance such as wax or lead.
The impression so made.
The design or emblem itself, belonging exclusively to the user: a monarch's seal.
A small disk or wafer of wax, lead, or paper bearing such an imprint and affixed to a document to prove authenticity or to secure it.
An airtight closure.
A closure, as on a package, used to prove that the contents have not been tampered with.
Something, such as a commercial hallmark, that authenticates, confirms, or attests.
A substance, especially an adhesive agent such as wax or putty, used to close or secure something or to prevent seepage of moisture or air.
A device that joins two systems or elements in such a way as to prevent leakage.
An airtight closure.
A closure, as on a package, used to prove that the contents have not been tampered with.
A small decorative paper sticker.
tr.v.
sealed, seal·ing, seals
To affix a seal to in order to prove authenticity or attest to accuracy, legal weight, quality, or another standard.
To close with or as if with a seal.
To close hermetically.
To make fast or fill up, as with plaster or cement.
To apply a waterproof coating to: seal a blacktop driveway.
To grant, certify, or designate under seal or authority.
To establish or determine irrevocably: Our fate was sealed.
Mormon Church To make (a marriage, for example) binding for life; solemnize forever.
Phrasal Verb(s): seal off
To close tightly or surround with a barricade or cordon: An unused wing of the hospital was sealed off.
[Middle English, from Old French seel, from Vulgar Latin *sigellum, from Latin sigillum, diminutive of signum, sign, seal; see sekw-1 in Indo-European roots.]
Any of various aquatic carnivorous mammals of the families Phocidae and Otariidae, found chiefly in the Northern Hemisphere and having a sleek, torpedo-shaped body and limbs that are modified into paddlelike flippers.
The pelt or fur of one of these animals, especially a fur seal.
Leather made from the hide of one of these animals.
"design stamped on wax," c.1230, from O.Fr. seel (Fr. sceau), from V.L. *sigellum (cf. It. suggello, Sp. sello, also O.Fris., M.H.G. sigel, Ger. Siegel), from L. sigillum "small picture, engraved figure, seal," dim. of signum "mark, token" (see sign). An earlier borrowing directly from L. is represented by O.E. insigel.Sealing-wax is attested from c.1300. Seal point "dark brown marking on a Siamese cat" is recorded from 1934.
"to fasten with (or as with) a seal," c.1225, from seal (n.1). Meaning "to place a seal on (a document)" is recorded from 1338; sense of "to close up with wax, lead, cement, etc." is attested from 1661, from the notion of wax seals on envelopes. To seal one's fate (1810) probably reflects the notion of a seal on an execution warrant.
sealAudio Help (sēl) Pronunciation Key
Any of various aquatic carnivorous mammals of the families Phocidae and Otariidae, having a sleek, torpedo-shaped body and limbs that are modified into paddlelike flippers. Seals live chiefly in the Northern Hemisphere and, like walruses, are pinnipeds.
Seal Beach, CA (city, FIPS 70686) Location: 33.75845 N, 118.07578 W Population (1990): 25098 (14407 housing units) Area: 30.4 sq km (land), 3.9 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 90740
Eared\, a. 1. Having (such or so many) ears; -- used in composition; as, long-eared-eared; sharp-eared; full-eared; ten-eared. 2. (Zo["o]l.) Having external ears; having tufts of feathers resembling ears. Eared owl (Zo["o]l.), an owl having earlike tufts of feathers, as the long-eared owl, and short-eared owl. Eared seal (Zo["o]l.), any seal of the family Otariid[ae], including the fur seals and hair seals. See Seal.
Rock\, n. [OF. roke, F. roche; cf. Armor. roc'h, and AS. rocc.]1. A large concreted mass of stony material; a large fixed stone or crag. See Stone. Come one, come all! this rock shall fly From its firm base as soon as I. --Sir W. Scott. 2. (Geol.) Any natural deposit forming a part of the earth's crust, whether consolidated or not, including sand, earth, clay, etc., when in natural beds. 3. That which resembles a rock in firmness; a defense; a support; a refuge. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress. --2 Sam. xxii. 2. 4. Fig.: Anything which causes a disaster or wreck resembling the wreck of a vessel upon a rock. 5. (Zo["o]l.) The striped bass. See under Bass. Note: This word is frequently used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, rock-bound, rock-built, rock-ribbed, rock-roofed, and the like. Rock alum. [Probably so called by confusion with F. roche a rock.] Same as Roche alum. Rock barnacle (Zo["o]l.), a barnacle (Balanus balanoides) very abundant on rocks washed by tides. Rock bass. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The stripped bass. See under Bass. (b) The goggle-eye. (c) The cabrilla. Other species are also locally called rock bass. Rock builder (Zo["o]l.), any species of animal whose remains contribute to the formation of rocks, especially the corals and Foraminifera. Rock butter (Min.), native alum mixed with clay and oxide of iron, usually in soft masses of a yellowish white color, occuring in cavities and fissures in argillaceous slate. Rock candy, a form of candy consisting of crystals of pure sugar which are very hard, whence the name. Rock cavy. (Zo["o]l.) See Moco. Rock cod (Zo["o]l.) (a) A small, often reddish or brown, variety of the cod found about rocks andledges. (b) A California rockfish. Rock cook. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A European wrasse (Centrolabrus exoletus). (b) A rockling. Rock cork (Min.), a variety of asbestus the fibers of which are loosely interlaced. It resembles cork in its texture. Rock crab (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of large crabs of the genus Cancer, as the two species of the New England coast (C. irroratus and C. borealis). See Illust. under Cancer. Rock cress (Bot.), a name of several plants of the cress kind found on rocks, as Arabis petr[ae]a, A. lyrata, etc. Rock crystal (Min.), limpid quartz. See Quartz, and under Crystal. Rock dove (Zo["o]l.), the rock pigeon; -- called also rock doo. Rock drill, an implement for drilling holes in rock; esp., a machine impelled by steam or compressed air, for drilling holes for blasting, etc. Rock duck (Zo["o]l.), the harlequin duck. Rock eel. (Zo["o]l.) See Gunnel. Rock goat (Zo["o]l.), a wild goat, or ibex. Rock hopper (Zo["o]l.), a penguin of the genus Catarractes. See under Penguin. Rock kangaroo. (Zo["o]l.) See Kangaroo, and Petrogale. Rock lobster (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of large spinose lobsters of the genera Panulirus and Palinurus. They have no large claws. Called also spiny lobster, and sea crayfish. Rock meal (Min.), a light powdery variety of calcite occuring as an efflorescence. Rock milk. (Min.) See Agaric mineral, under Agaric. Rock moss, a kind of lichen; the cudbear. See Cudbear. Rock oil. See Petroleum. Rock parrakeet (Zo["o]l.), a small Australian parrakeet (Euphema petrophila), which nests in holes among the rocks of high cliffs. Its general color is yellowish olive green; a frontal band and the outer edge of the wing quills are deep blue, and the central tail feathers bluish green. Rock pigeon (Zo["o]l.), the wild pigeon (Columba livia) Of Europe and Asia, from which the domestic pigeon was derived. See Illust. under Pigeon. Rock pipit. (Zo["o]l.) See the Note under Pipit. Rock plover. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The black-bellied, or whistling, plover. (b) The rock snipe. Rock ptarmigan (Zo["o]l.), an arctic American ptarmigan (Lagopus rupestris), which in winter is white, with the tail and lores black. In summer the males are grayish brown, coarsely vermiculated with black, and have black patches on the back. Rock rabbit (Zo["o]l.), the hyrax. See Cony, and Daman. Rock ruby (Min.), a fine reddish variety of garnet. Rock salt (Min.), cloride of sodium (common salt) occuring in rocklike masses in mines; mineral salt; salt dug from the earth. In the United States this name is sometimes given to salt in large crystals, formed by evaporation from sea water in large basins or cavities. Rock seal (Zo["o]l.), the harbor seal. See Seal. Rock shell (Zo["o]l.), any species of Murex, Purpura, and allied genera. Rock snake (Zo["o]l.), any one of several large pythons; as, the royal rock snake (Python regia) of Africa, and the rock snake of India (P. molurus). The Australian rock snakes mostly belong to the allied genus Morelia. Rock snipe (Zo["o]l.), the purple sandpiper (Tringa maritima); -- called also rock bird, rock plover, winter snipe. Rock soap (Min.), a kind of clay having a smooth, greasy feel, and adhering to the tongue. Rock sparrow. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any one of several species of Old World sparrows of the genus Petronia, as P. stulla, of Europe. (b) A North American sparrow (Puc[ae]a ruficeps). Rock tar, petroleum. Rock thrush (Zo["o]l.), any Old World thrush of the genus Monticola, or Petrocossyphus; as, the European rock thrush (M. saxatilis), and the blue rock thrush of India (M. cyaneus), in which the male is blue throughout. Rock tripe (Bot.), a kind of lichen (Umbilicaria Dillenii) growing on rocks in the northen parts of America, and forming broad, flat, coriaceous, dark fuscous or blackish expansions. It has been used as food in cases of extremity. Rock trout (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of marine food fishes of the genus Hexagrammus, family Chirad[ae], native of the North Pacific coasts; -- called also sea trout, boregat, bodieron, and starling. Rock warbler (Zo["o]l.), a small Australian singing bird (Origma rubricata) which frequents rocky ravines and water courses; -- called also cataract bird. Rock wren (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of wrens of the genus Salpinctes, native of the arid plains of Lower California and Mexico.
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Audio Help [seel] Pronunciation Key 
