- an area of canvas or other fabric extended to the wind in such a way as to transmit the force of the wind to an assemblage of spars and rigging mounted firmly on a hull, raft, iceboat, etc., so as to drive it along.
- some similar piece or apparatus, as the part of an arm that catches the wind on a windmill.
- a voyage or excursion, especially in a sailing vessel:They went for a sail around the island.
- a sailing vessel or ship.
- sailing vessels collectively: The fleet numbered 30 sail.
- sails for a vessel or vessels collectively.
- the constellation Vela.
- to move along or travel over water: steamships sailing to Lisbon.
- to manage a sailboat, especially for sport.
- to begin a journey by water: We are sailing at dawn.
- to move along in a manner suggestive of a sailing vessel: caravans sailing along.
- to move along in a stately, effortless way: to sail into a room.
- to sail upon, over, or through: to sail the seven seas.
- to navigate (a vessel).
- sail in / into Informal.
- to go vigorously into action; begin to act; attack.
- to attack verbally: He would sail into his staff when work was going badly.
- with the sails set.
- make sail, Nautical.
- to set the sail or sails of a boat or increase the amount of sail already set.
- to set out on a voyage: Make sail for the Leeward Islands.
- to start a sea voyage: We set sail at midnight for Nantucket.
- to cut expenses; economize: We're going to have to trim our sails if we stay in business.
- with sails set; in motion; sailing: It was good to be under sail in the brisk wind and under the warm sun.
- an area of fabric, usually Terylene or nylon (formerly canvas), with fittings for holding it in any suitable position to catch the wind, used for propelling certain kinds of vessels, esp over water
- a voyage on such a vessel
- a vessel with sails or such vessels collectively
- a ship's sails collectively
- something resembling a sail in shape, position, or function, such as the part of a windmill that is turned by the wind or the part of a Portuguese man-of-war that projects above the water
- the conning tower of a submarine
- having the sail set
- make sail
- to run up the sail or to run up more sail
- to begin a voyage
- set sail
- to embark on a voyage by ship
- to hoist sail
- under sail
- with sail hoisted
- under way
- to travel in a boat or ship
- to begin a voyage; set sail
- (of a vessel) to move over the water
- to manoeuvre or navigate a vessel
- to sail over
- to move fast or effortlessly
- to move along smoothly; glide
- (often foll by in or into) informal
- to begin (something) with vigour
- to make an attack (on) violently with words or physical force
