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Intermediate Dictionary
       

sail

 
 
pronunciation:
seIl
parts of speech:
noun, verb, transitive verb
features:
Homophone Note, Word Explorer
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a large piece of cloth that is attached to a boat. Sails move boats forward by catching the wind.
 
definition 2: anything like a sail that is used to catch the force of the wind.
The part of a windmill that catches the wind is called a sail.
synonyms:
blade, vane
definition 3: a trip on a sailboat.
We had a beautiful sail around the lake.
 
part of speech: verb
inflections: sails, sailing, sailed
definition 1: to move over the water.
The boat sailed across the lake.
similar words:
course, cruise, skim, steam
definition 2: to travel on a sailboat.
We will sail down the coast for vacation this summer.
synonyms:
boat, cruise
definition 3: to begin a trip on a boat.
The ship will sail at sunset.
synonyms:
embark, launch
definition 4: to operate a sailboat.
My aunt is teaching me to sail.
similar words:
cruise, navigate
definition 5: to travel quickly or without difficulty.
The kite sailed through the air.He sailed through his classes.
synonyms:
glide
similar words:
breeze, drift, float, flow, fly, ride, skim, slip, soar, sweep
 
part of speech: transitive verb
definition 1: to travel over (a body of water) in a ship or boat, especially one with sails.
Columbus first sailed the Atlantic Ocean in 1492.
synonyms:
navigate
similar words:
skim, sweep
definition 2: to operate or navigate (a ship or a boat).
She sailed her boat to a nearby island.
synonyms:
navigate
similar words:
pilot
definition 3: of a ship or boat, to travel over (a body of water).
The ship sailed the ocean over four hundred times.
Homophone Note
The words sail and sale (an instance of selling) sound alike but have different meanings.
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  boat, fish, transportation, water