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n. 1. Nautical a. A piece of fabric sewn together and fitted to the spars and rigging of a vessel so as to convert the force of the wind into forward motion of the vessel. b. The sails of a ship or boat. c. A narrow fairwater supporting the bridge of a submarine. 2. pl. sail or sails Nautical A sailing vessel. 3. Nautical A trip or voyage in a sailing craft. 4. Something, such as the blade of a windmill, that resembles a sail in form or function. v. sailed, sail·ing, sails v.intr. 1. Nautical a. To move across the surface of water, especially by means of a sailing vessel. b. To travel by water in a vessel. c. To start out on such a voyage or journey: Tomorrow we sail for the islands. d. To operate a sailing craft, especially for sport. 2. To move along or progress smoothly or effortlessly: sailed into the room five minutes late; sailed through the exam; sailed through the red light. 3. To move along through the air: The ball sailed into the stands. v.tr. Phrasal Verb: Nautical 1. To navigate or manage (a vessel). 2. To voyage upon or across: sail the Pacific. sail into Idiom: To attack or criticize vigorously: sailed into the workmen for the shoddy job they were doing. under sail Nautical With the sails up; sailing. [Middle English seil, from Old English segl. Sail into, from obsolete sail, to attack, from Middle English sailen, short for assailen; see ASSAIL.] |
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