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sail

 - 4 dictionary results
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sail

  [seyl]
Use sail in a Sentence
–noun
1. an area of canvas or other fabric extended to the wind in such a way as to transmit the force of the wind to an assemblage of spars and rigging mounted firmly on a hull, raft, iceboat, etc., so as to drive it along.
2. some similar piece or apparatus, as the part of an arm that catches the wind on a windmill.
3. a voyage or excursion, esp. in a sailing vessel: They went for a sail around the island.
4. a sailing vessel or ship.
5. sailing vessels collectively: The fleet numbered 30 sail.
6. sails for a vessel or vessels collectively.
7. (initial capital letter) Astronomy. the constellation Vela.
–verb (used without object)
8. to move along or travel over water: steamships sailing to Lisbon.
9. to manage a sailboat, esp. for sport.
10. to begin a journey by water: We are sailing at dawn.
11. to move along in a manner suggestive of a sailing vessel: caravans sailing along.
12. to move along in a stately, effortless way: to sail into a room.
–verb (used with object)
13. to sail upon, over, or through: to sail the seven seas.
14. to navigate (a vessel).
—Verb phrase
15. sail in or into, Informal.
a. to go vigorously into action; begin to act; attack.
b. to attack verbally: He would sail into his staff when work was going badly.
—Idioms
16. in sail, with the sails set.
17. make sail, Nautical.
a. to set the sail or sails of a boat or increase the amount of sail already set.
b. to set out on a voyage: Make sail for the Leeward Islands.
18. set sail, to start a sea voyage: We set sail at midnight for Nantucket.
19. trim one's sails, Informal. to cut expenses; economize: We're going to have to trim our sails if we stay in business.
20. under sail, with sails set; in motion; sailing: It was good to be under sail in the brisk wind and under the warm sun.
Origin:
bef. 900; (n.) ME sail(e), seille, OE segl; c. G Segel, ON segl; (v.) ME seillen, saylen, OE siglan, seglian; c. D zeilen, ON sigla

Related forms:
sail⋅a⋅ble, adjective
sailless, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sail   (sāl)   
n.  

  1. Nautical

    1. 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.

    2. The sails of a ship or boat.

    3. The superstructure of a submarine.

  2. pl. sail or sails Nautical A sailing vessel.

  3. Nautical A trip or voyage in a sailing craft.

  4. Something, such as the blade of a windmill, that resembles a sail in form or function.

v.   sailed, sail·ing, sails

v.   intr.

  1. Nautical

    1. To move across the surface of water, especially by means of a sailing vessel.

    2. To travel by water in a vessel.

    3. To start out on such a voyage or journey.

    4. To operate a sailing craft, especially for sport.

  2. To move along or progress smoothly or effortlessly: sailed into the room five minutes late; sailed through the exam; sailed through the red light.

v.   tr. Nautical

  1. To navigate or manage (a vessel).

  2. To voyage upon or across: sail the Pacific.

Phrasal Verb(s):
sail intoTo attack or criticize vigorously: sailed into the workmen for the shoddy job they were doing.

[Middle English seil, from Old English segl. Sail into, from obsolete sail, to attack, from Middle English sailen, short for assailen; see assail.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Computing Dictionary

SAIL
1. Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
2. Stanford Artificial Intelligence Language.
3. An early system on the Larc computer.
[Listed in CACM 2(5):16, May 1959].
[The Jargon File]
(2001-06-22)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Idioms & Phrases

sail

In addition to the idioms beginning with sail, also see (sail under) false colors; plain sailing; set sail; smooth sailing; take the wind out of one's sails; trim one's sails.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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