sail
Sail (noun) means a large piece of fabric rigged on a boat to catch the wind and drive it forward. Example: “The crew hoisted the mainsail as soon as they cleared the harbor.”
How to Use Sail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe fabric that catches wind on a boat, or the act of traveling by boat (or moving smoothly, in a figurative sense).
Word Forms
sailed past tense, sails plural, sails singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
They _____ across the Atlantic in just under three weeks.
Etymology
From Old English segl, from Proto-Germanic *seglą — related to German Segel and Dutch zeil.
Related Words
Rhymes for sail
See all rhymes for sail →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “sail” mean?
The word “sail” means a large piece of fabric rigged on a boat to catch the wind and drive it forward. In plain terms, the fabric that catches wind on a boat, or the act of traveling by boat (or moving smoothly, in a figurative sense).
How do you pronounce “sail”?
“Sail” is pronounced sayl (/seɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “sail” in a sentence?
Here is “sail” used in a sentence: “The crew hoisted the mainsail as soon as they cleared the harbor.”
What part of speech is “sail”?
Depending on how it is used, “sail” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sail” come from?
The word “sail” comes from Old English. From Old English segl, from Proto-Germanic *seglą — related to German Segel and Dutch zeil.
Is “sail” a common word?
“Sail” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “sail” have?
“Sail” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large piece of fabric rigged on a boat to catch the wind and drive it forward.
What is the difference between sail and sale?
Sail and sale are homophones. A sail is the large piece of fabric that catches the wind on a boat, and to sail is to travel across water; a sale is the act of selling something or a period of reduced prices. The fixed phrase is "set sail," never "set sale."
Can a ship without sails still be said to sail?
Yes. Although the verb originally referred to travelling under wind power, it now covers travel by boat or ship generally, so a motor yacht or cruise liner sails from port to port.