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Sail - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A sail is a piece of fabric attached to a boat or ship, designed to catch the wind and propel the vessel forward. It is essential for sailing and navigation.

sail

/seɪl/ /seɪl/

Definition:

To travel on water using wind-powered fabric or to move smoothly and effortlessly.

Synonyms:

glide, cruise, navigate, drift, float

Part of Speech:

verb, noun

Antonyms:

anchor, halt

Common Collocations:

sail a boat, set sail, sail away, smooth sail, full sail

Derivatives:

sailor, sailing, sailboat

Usage Tips:

Use "sail" for movement on water or metaphorically for effortless progress; "sail through" means to succeed easily.

Common Phrases:

sail through, set sail, take the wind out of someone's sails

Etymology:

From Old English "segl," meaning a piece of fabric used to catch wind for propulsion.

Examples:

  • 1. The boat will sail at dawn.
  • 2. She learned to sail last summer.
  • 3. The paper airplane sailed across the room.
  • 4. They plan to sail around the world.

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