sail
(noun, verb)
past tense: sailed
LISTEN
A sail is a piece of cloth on a boat or ship to catch the wind.
- The ship had three sails.
- The sail moved back and forth in the gentle wind.
Sail means ‘to travel in a ship.’
- The cruise ship sailed through the Panama Canal.
- Columbus sailed from Spain with three ships.
Sail can also mean ‘to move like a sailing ship.’
- Taylor sailed into the room and took over the meeting.
Don't confuse it with
sale: an offering of goods at reduced prices. Example: “During the sale, prices are reduced by 50 percent.”
Common uses
set sail for: to start a voyage. Example: “The sailors set sail for the island at dawn.”
Related words
sailor: a person in the navy whose rank is below officer. Example: “The sailor communicated with the other ships in the area.”
In pop culture
Do you know the series Sailor Moon? It’s based on a Japanese manga series and it’s about the adventures of a schoolgirl who tries to avoid the destruction of the Solar System. Here’s the opening song in English:
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