Definition

Noun: A sailing vessel is a type of watercraft that is primarily propelled by the force of the wind acting upon sails. It typically features one or more masts to support these sails.

Usage

A "sailing vessel" refers specifically to the ship or boat itself, defined by its method of propulsion. It is a formal and technical term.

Examples: * The historic sailing vessel entered the harbor under full sail. * Before the invention of steam power, the sailing vessel was the primary means of long-distance travel across oceans. * The museum has a model of a 19th-century sailing vessel.

Advanced Usage

• "Auxiliary power": Many modern sailing vessels have an auxiliary engine for use when there is no wind or for maneuvering in port, but they are still classified as sailing vessels due to their primary sail propulsion.
  • The yacht is a sailing vessel with a small diesel engine for backup.

Variants and Related Words

• Sailboat (n): A smaller type of sailing vessel, typically used for recreation or racing.
• Sailing ship (n): Often used synonymously with "sailing vessel," but can imply a larger, ocean-going vessel from the age of sail.
• Windjammer (n): A large merchant sailing ship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Sloop, schooner, brig, barque (n): Specific types of sailing vessels, classified by their sail plans and mast configuration.

Synonyms

• Sailboat
• Sailing ship
• Wind-powered vessel

Antonyms

• Power vessel
• Steamship
• Motorboat

Noun

1. a vessel that is powered by the wind; often having several masts