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.
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.