Seal

Pronunciation

• enPR: sÄ“l, IPA: /siːl/
• Rhymes: -iːl

Middle English sele, from an inflectional form of Old English seolh, from Proto-Germanic *selhaz (compare North Frisian selich, Middle Dutch seel, zēle, Old High German selah, Danish sæl, Middle Low German sale), either from Proto-Indo-European *selk, *solk 'to pull' (compare dialectal English sullow 'plough') or from *šülke (compare dialectal Finnish hylki, standard hylje, Estonian hüljes). More at sullow.

Noun

1. A pinniped, particularly an earless seal (true seal) or eared seal.The seals in the harbor looked better than they smelled.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Full definition of seal

Verb

1. (intransitive) To hunt seals.
   They're organizing a protest against sealing.

Synonyms

• (hunt seals) go sealing

From Anglo-Norman, from Old French seel, from Latin sigillum, a diminutive of signum ("sign")

Noun

1. A stamp used to impress a design on a soft substance such as wax.
2. An impression of a stamp on wax or paper.
3. A design or insignia usually associated with an organization or an official role.The front of the podium bore the presidential seal.
4. Anything that secures or authenticates.
5. Something which will be visibly damaged if a covering or container is opened, and which may or may not bear an official design.The result was declared invalid, as the seal on the meter had been broken.
6. Confirmation or an indication of confirmation.Her clothes always had her mom's seal of approval.
7. Something designed to prevent liquids or gases from leaking through a joint.The canister is leaking. I think the main seal needs to be replaced.
8. A tight closure, secure against leakage.Close the lid tightly to get a good seal.
9. A chakra.

Derived terms

Related terms

• aseal, asseal
• enseal

Verb

1. (transitive) To place a seal on (a document).
2. To mark with a stamp, as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, or merchantable quality.to seal weights and measures; to seal silverware
3. (transitive) To fasten (something) so that it cannot be opened without visible damage.The cover is sealed. If anyone tries to open it, we'll know about it.
4. (transitive) To prevent people or vehicles from crossing (something).The border has been sealed until the fugitives are found.
5. (transitive) To close securely to prevent leakage.I've sealed the bottle to keep the contents fresh.
• ShakespeareSeal up your lips, and give no words but "mum".
6. (transitive) To place in a sealed container.I've sealed the documents in this envelope.
7. (transitive, chess) To place a notation of one's next move in a sealed envelope to be opened after an adjournment.After thinking for half an hour, the champion sealed his move.
8. (transitive) To guarantee.The last-minute goal sealed United's win.
9. To fix, as a piece of iron in a wall, with cement or plaster, etc.
10. To close by means of a seal.to seal a drainpipe with water
11. (Mormonism) To confirm or set apart as a second or additional wife.
• H. StansburyIf a man once married desires a second helpmate ... she is sealed to him under the solemn sanction of the church.

Synonyms

• (place a seal on)
• (fasten (something) so that it cannot be opened without visible damage):
• (prevent people or vehicles from crossing (something)): block, block off, close, close off, obstruct, seal off
• (close securely to prevent leakage)
• (place in a sealed container) enclose
• (chess term)

Derived terms

From Old English sǣlan ("to bind").

Verb

1. (dialectal) To tie up animals (especially cattle) in their stalls.

Anagrams

• ales, ELAS, Elsa, lase, leas, sale, Sale