sail
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,000 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 8,980 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
verb
- traverse or travel on (a body of water) We sailed the AtlanticHe sailed the Pacific all alone
- move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions also: sweep The diva swept into the roomShreds of paper sailed through the air
- travel on water propelled by wind I love sailing, especially on the open seathe ship sails on
- travel on water propelled by wind or by other means also: voyage, navigate The QE2 will sail to Southampton tomorrow
noun
- a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel also: canvas, canvass, sheet
- an ocean trip taken for pleasure also: cruise
- any structure that resembles a sail
sail in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
-
They saw a great ship sail slowly by, making a cloud of smoke.
The Dutch Twins · Lucy Fitch Perkins · Chapter 1
-
Egypt, of which Homer had some knowledge, was but five days’ sail from Crete.
The Odyssey of Homer · 751? BCE-651? BCE Homer · Chapter 1
-
As to making sail, we had none; neither if we had, could we make use of any.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1
-
Once more on the deck I stand Of my own swift-gliding craft: Set sail! farewell to the land!
Poems Every Child Should Know · Mary E. (Mary Elizabeth) [Editor] Burt · Chapter 1
-
Dead reckoning is good for to sail for the Deadman; And Tom Deadlight he thinks it may reckon near right.
John Marr and Other Poems · Herman Melville · Chapter 1