Definition

1. Noun:

   • A piece of fabric attached to a vessel: A large sheet of material, typically canvas, used to catch the wind and propel a sailing boat or ship.
   • A journey or trip on a sailing vessel: An excursion or voyage taken on water, especially for pleasure.
   • Something resembling a sail: Any structure that has a shape or function similar to a ship's sail.

2. Verb:

   • To travel on water in a vessel: To move across a body of water in a boat or ship, especially one using wind power.
   • To begin a voyage: To depart on a journey by water.
   • To operate or control a sailing vessel: To steer or navigate a boat that uses sails.
   • To move smoothly and effortlessly: To glide or sweep through the air or across a surface with grace and ease.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The ship's white sail was visible on the horizon.
  • They went for a sail around the bay.
  • The windmill's arms looked like giant sails.

• Verb:

  • We will sail across the Mediterranean next summer.
  • The ferry sails at noon.
  • She learned to sail a dinghy.
  • The eagle sailed majestically on the thermal currents.

Advanced Usage

• "to sail through (something)": To complete something very easily and successfully.
  • She sailed through her final exams.
• "to sail close to the wind": To behave in a way that is almost illegal or socially unacceptable.
  • His business practices sail close to the wind.

Variants and Related Words

• Sailing (n): The sport or activity of traveling in a boat with sails.
  • He loves sailing.
• Sailor (n): A person who works on or navigates a ship.
  • The sailor climbed the mast.
• Sails (n, plural): More than one sail.
  • The yacht has three sails.

Synonyms

• Cruise (v): To sail about on a pleasure trip.
• Glide (v): To move smoothly and continuously.
• Canvas (n): The fabric used for sails (in a specific context).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Sail into (someone/something):
  • To attack or criticize someone strongly.

    • He sailed into his opponents during the debate.
  • To begin an activity with great energy.

    • She sailed into the project with enthusiasm.
• Sail through: See "Advanced Usage" above.

Related Idioms

• Trim one's sails: To reduce one's spending or ambitions.
  • After the financial loss, they had to trim their sails.
• Take the wind out of someone's sails: To discourage someone by saying or doing something unexpected.
  • Her critical comment took the wind out of his sails.
• Set sail: To begin a voyage.
  • They set sail for the Caribbean at dawn.
• Under sail: Moving by means of sails; not using engine power.
  • The historic ship is under sail.

Noun

1. any structure that resembles a sail
2. an ocean trip taken for pleasure
3. a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel

Verb

1. travel on water propelled by wind or by other means
   • The QE2 will sail to Southampton tomorrow
2. travel on water propelled by wind
   • I love sailing, especially on the open sea
   • the ship sails on
3. move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions
   • The diva swept into the room
   • Shreds of paper sailed through the air
   • The searchlights swept across the sky
4. traverse or travel on (a body of water)
   • We sailed the Atlantic
   • He sailed the Pacific all alone