Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense seals, present participle sealing, past tense, past participle sealed
1. verb
When you seal an envelope, you close it by folding part of it over and sticking it down, so that it cannot be opened without being torn.
He sealed the envelope and put on a stamp. [VERB noun]
Write your letter and seal it in a blank envelope. [VERB noun + in]
A courier was despatched with two sealed envelopes. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: stick down, close, secure, shut More Synonyms of seal
2. verb
If you seal a container or an opening, you cover it with something in order to prevent air, liquid,or other material getting in or out. If you seal something in a container, you put it inside and then close the container tightly.
She merely filled the containers, sealed them with a cork, and pasted on labels. [VERB noun]
A woman picks them up and seals them in plastic bags. [V n with in]
...a lid to seal in heat and keep food moist. [V n with in]
Synonyms: shut, close, seal up, make watertight More Synonyms of seal
3. countable noun
The seal on a container or opening is the part where it has been sealed.
When assembling the pie, wet the edges where the two crusts join, to form a seal.
Synonyms: sealant, sealer, adhesive More Synonyms of seal
4. countable noun
A seal is a device or a piece of material, for example in a machine, which closes an openingtightly so that air, liquid, or other substances cannot get in or out.
Check seals on fridges and freezers regularly. [+ on]
5. countable noun
A seal is something such as a piece of sticky paper or wax that is fixed to a container or door and must be broken before the container or door can be opened.
The seal on the box broke when it fell from its hiding-place. [+ on]
Protestors banged on the sides of the lorry and broke customs seals on the doors.
6. countable noun
A seal is a special mark or design, for example on a document, representing someone or something.It may be used to show that something is genuine or officially approved.
...a supply of note paper bearing the Presidential seal.
The best wines are entitled to a numbered seal of quality.
7. verb
If someone in authority seals an area, they stop people entering or passing through it, for example by placing barriers in the way.
The soldiers were deployed to help police seal the border. [VERB noun]
A wide area round the building is sealed to all traffic except the emergency services. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: cordon off, shut off, fence off, isolate More Synonyms of seal
Seal off means the same as seal1.
Police and troops sealed off the area after the attack. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
Soldiers there are going to seal the airport off. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
8. verb
To seal something means to make it definite or confirm how it is going to be.
[written]
McLaren are close to sealing a deal with Renault. [VERB noun]
The election will seal his destiny one way or the other. [VERB noun]
His artistic character was sealed by his experiences of the First World War. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: settle, close, clinch, conclude More Synonyms of seal
9.
See set/put the seal on
10.
See under seal
11. seal of approval
12. to seal someone's fate
13. my lips are sealed
14. signed and sealed
Phrasal verbs:
See seal in
See seal off
See seal up
More Synonyms of seal
seal animal
(siːl)
Word forms: plural seals
countable noun
A seal is a large animal with a rounded body and flat legs called flippers. Seals eat fish and live in and near the sea, usually in cold parts of the world.
seal in British English1
(siːl)
noun
1.
a device impressed on a piece of wax, moist clay, etc, fixed to a letter, document, etc, as a mark of authentication
2.
a stamp, ring, etc, engraved with a device to form such an impression
3.
a substance, esp wax, so placed over an envelope, document, etc, that it must be broken before the object can be opened or used
4.
any substance or device used to close or fasten tightly
5.
a material, such as putty or cement, that is used to close an opening to prevent the passage of air, water, etc
6.
a small amount of water contained in the trap of a drain to prevent the passage of foul smells
7.
an agent or device for keeping something hidden or secret
8.
anything that gives a pledge or confirmation
9.
a decorative stamp often sold in aid of charity
10. Also called: seal of confession Roman Catholic Church
the obligation never to reveal anything said by a penitent in confession
11. set one's seal on
verb(transitive)
12.
to affix a seal to, as proof of authenticity
13.
to stamp with or as if with a seal
14.
to approve or authorize
15. (sometimes foll by up)
to close or secure with or as if with a seal
to seal one's lips
seal up a letter
16. (foll by off)
to enclose (a place) with a fence, wall, etc
17.
to decide irrevocably
18. LDS Church
to make (a marriage or adoption) perpetually binding
19.
to subject (the outside of meat, etc) to fierce heat so as to retain the juices during cooking
20.
to close tightly so as to render airtight or watertight
21.
to paint (a porous material) with a nonporous coating
22. Australian and New Zealand
to consolidate (a road surface) with bitumen, tar, etc
Derived forms
sealable (ˈsealable)
adjective
Word origin
C13 seel, from Old French, from Latin sigillum little figure, from signum a sign
seal in British English2
(siːl)
noun
1.
any pinniped mammal of the families Otariidae (eared seals) and Phocidae (earless seals) that are aquatic but come on shore to breed
eared seal, earless seal ▶ Related adjectives: otarid, phocine
2.
any earless seal (family Phocidae), esp the common or harbour seal or the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
3.
sealskin
verb
4. (intransitive)
to hunt for seals
Derived forms
seal-like (ˈseal-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English seolh; related to Old Norse selr, Old High German selah, Old Irish selige tortoise
SEAL in British English
(siːl)
noun
a member of the Sea Air and Land Teams, an elite special operations unit of the United States Navy
SEAL in American English
(sil)
US
noun
a member of a special U.S. Navy combat unit trained for sea, air, or land commando operations
seal in American English1
(sil)
noun
1.
a design, initial, or other device placed on a letter, document, etc., as a mark of genuineness orauthenticity: letters were, esp. formerly, closed with a wafer of molten wax into which was pressed the distinctive seal of the sender
2.
a stamp, signet ring, etc., or the signet itself, used in making such a design
3.
a wax wafer, piece of paper, etc. bearing the impression of some official designand used as to authenticate a signature or document
4.
a.
something that seals, closes, or fastens tightly or securely; specif., a piece ofmetal, paper, etc. so placed over a lid, cap, etc. that it must be broken before the container can be opened
b.
a tight closure, as against the passage of air or water
5.
anything that confirms, authenticates, or guarantees; pledge
6.
an indication; sign; token
a handshake as a seal of friendship
7.
a.
any device preventing the passage of gas through a pipe
b.
the standing water in the trap of a drainpipe
8. US
an ornamental stamp placed on envelopes, packages, etc.
a Christmas seal
verb transitive
9.
to mark with a seal; fix a seal to
10.
to secure the contents of (a letter, envelope, etc.), orig. by closing with a sealed wax wafer, now usuallywith mucilage, tape, or a gummed flap
11.
to confirm or authenticate (a document, etc.) by marking with a seal
12.
to attest to or confirm the truth or genuineness of (a promise, bargain, etc.)
13.
to certify as being accurate, exact, of a given size, quality, capacity, etc. by fixing a stamp or seal to
14.
to grant, assign, or designate with a seal, pledge, etc.
15.
to settle, determine, or decide finally or irrevocably
to seal one's fate
16.
a.
to close, shut, or fasten with or as with a seal
to seal one's lips
b.
to close completely so as to make airtight or watertight
c.
to apply a nonpermeable coating to (a porous surface, as of wood) as before painting
17. Electricity
to bring (a plug and jack) into full, interlocking contact
18. US, LDS Church
to solemnize (a marriage) for eternity in a church rite
Idioms:
seal off
set one's seal to
under (one's) seal
Word origin
ME seel < OFr < L sigillum, a seal, mark, dim. of signum: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
seal in American English2
(sil)
nounWord forms: pluralseals or seal
1.
any of two families (Otariidae and Phocidae) of sea carnivores with a doglike head, a torpedo-shaped body, and four webbed feet or flippers: they live in cold or temperate waters and usually eat fish
see also eared seal, earless seal
2.
a.
the fur of a fur seal
b.
a similar fur used as a substitute for this
3.
leather made from sealskin
verb intransitive
4.
to hunt seals
Word origin
ME sele < OE seolh, akin to OHG selah, prob. < IE base *swelk-, to pull, draw (with reference to the seal's labored movements on land) > L sulcus, furrow
seal in Chemical Engineering
(sil)
Word forms: (regular plural) seals
noun
(Chemical Engineering: Fluids storage and transport)
A seal is something which prevents anything leaking from a place where a part joins a pipe, vessel, or fluid device.
By designing an apparatus with rounded corners, an airtight seal was possible with a gasket that was inserted between the edge of the lid and theinterior of the box.
If condensate waves move up and fill a pipe, a seal is formed with the pressure of the steam behind it.
A seal is something which prevents anything leaking from a place where a part joins a pipe,vessel, or fluid device.
seal leg
seal in Mechanical Engineering
(sil)
Word forms: (regular plural) seals
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Machinery and components)
A seal is a part fitted around or between other parts of a machine to prevent fluid from leaking in or out.
The seal around the edge of the door had split and water had got in.
The connection has a watertight seal to prevent water entering the chamber.
A seal is a part fitted around or between other parts of a machine to prevent fluid fromleaking in or out.
seal in the Pharmaceutical Industry
(sil)
Word forms: (regular plural) seals
noun
(Pharmaceutical: Packaging)
A seal on a package or container is a cover that prevents air, liquid, or other materialfrom getting in or out.
There is a protective foil seal over the opening of the bottle.
Do not use the medicine if the protective seal under the cap is broken, as it may be contaminated.
A seal on a package or container is a cover that prevents air, liquid, or other materialfrom getting in or out.
tamper-evident seal
More idioms containing
seal
seal someone's fate
Examples of 'seal' in a sentence
seal
Five minutes later Peik turned / up, looking in his black jogging outfit not unlike a seal emerging from a pool.
Low, Ona TO HIS JUST DESSERTS (1993)
There'd been public performances of songs that were still under seal of confidentiality.
Hilton, John Buxton PASSION IN THE PEAK (1993)
Not for the seal behind Calvin, not even for the man himself... just for the indifference, the complacency!
Thomas, Craig THE LAST RAVEN (1993)
Some little widget or seal could let go, crashing them to the ground.
Clancy, Tom WITHOUT REMORSE (1993)
Word lists with
seal
related adjectives, homes and habitations, baby and young animals, sea mammal
In other languages
seal
British English: seal /siːl/ NOUN
animal A seal is an animal which eats fish and lives partly on land and partly in the sea.
American English: seal animal
Arabic: فُقْمَة حيوان
Brazilian Portuguese: foca
Chinese: 海豹
Croatian: tuljan
Czech: tuleň
Danish: sæl
Dutch: zeehond
European Spanish: foca
Finnish: hylje
French: phoque
German: Seehund
Greek: φώκια
Italian: foca
Japanese: アザラシ animal
Korean: 바다표범
Norwegian: sel
Polish: foka zwierzę
European Portuguese: foca
Romanian: focă
Russian: тюлень
Latin American Spanish: foca
Swedish: säl
Thai: แมวน้ำ
Turkish: fok
Ukrainian: тюлень
Vietnamese: hải cẩu
British English: seal /siːl/ NOUN
on a document A seal is an official stamp on a document.
The notepaper carries the seal of the president.
American English: seal mark
Arabic: خَتْم
Brazilian Portuguese: lacre
Chinese: 印章
Croatian: pečat
Czech: pečeť
Danish: segl
Dutch: zegel
European Spanish: sello precinto
Finnish: sinetti
French: sceau
German: Siegel
Greek: σφραγίδα
Italian: sigillo
Japanese: 封印 mark
Korean: 도장 도장
Norwegian: segl
Polish: pieczęć znak
European Portuguese: selo
Romanian: ștampilă
Russian: печать штемпель
Latin American Spanish: sello marca
Swedish: sigill
Thai: ตราประทับ
Turkish: mühür
Ukrainian: печатка
Vietnamese: con dấu
British English: seal /siːl/ VERB
When you seal an envelope, you close it by folding part of it and sticking it down.
He sealed the envelope and put on a stamp.
American English: seal
Arabic: يَخْتِمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: lacrar
Chinese: 密封
Croatian: zapečatiti
Czech: uzavřít těsně
Danish: forsegle
Dutch: verzegelen
European Spanish: sellar
Finnish: sinetöidä
French: sceller
German: versiegeln
Greek: σφραγίζω
Italian: sigillare
Japanese: 封をする
Korean: 봉인하다
Norwegian: forsegle
Polish: opieczętować
European Portuguese: lacrar
Romanian: a sigila
Russian: скреплять печатью
Latin American Spanish: sellar
Swedish: försegla
Thai: ปิดผนึก
Turkish: mühürlemek
Ukrainian: запечатувати
Vietnamese: đóng dấu
All related terms of 'seal'
seal in
If something seals in a smell or liquid, it prevents it from getting out of a food.
seal up
If you seal something up , you close it completely so that nothing can get in or out.
fur seal
any of various eared seals , esp of the genus Arctocephalus , that have a fine dense underfur and are hunted as a source of sealskin
grey seal
a greyish species of earless seal , Halichoerus grypus
hair seal
any earless seal , esp the harbour seal, having a coat of stiff hair with no underfur
harp seal
a brownish-grey earless seal , Pagophilus groenlandicus, of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans
monk seal
any of various seals of the genus Monachus of the pinniped family Phocidae, dark on the back and pale on the underside
seal cull
an operation designed to reduce the number of seals by slaughtering some of them
seal leg
A seal leg is an open pipe which contains particles that gas cannot leak through.
seal off
If one object or area is sealed off from another, there is a physical barrier between them, so that nothing can pass between them.
seal ring
→ signet ring
broad seal
the official seal of a nation and its government
common seal
the official seal of a corporate body
eared seal
any seal of the pinniped family Otariidae, typically having visible earflaps and conspicuous hind limbs that can be used for locomotion on land
great seal
the principal seal of a nation , sovereign , etc, used to authenticate signatures and documents of the highest importance
harbor seal
an earless seal ( Phoca vitulina ) common in N Atlantic coastal waters
hooded seal
a large greyish earless seal , Cystophora cristata, of the N Atlantic and Arctic Oceans , having an inflatable hoodlike sac over the nasal region
Hudson seal
muskrat fur that has been dressed and dyed to resemble sealskin
privy seal
(in Britain ) a seal affixed to certain documents issued by royal authority : of less rank and importance than the great seal
seal brown
a dark brown colour often with a yellowish or greyish tinge
seal colony
A colony of birds, insects, or animals is a group of them that live together.
seal-point
a popular variety of the Siamese cat , having a dark brown mask , paws , and tail, and a cream body
under seal
If a document is under seal , it is in a sealed envelope and cannot be looked at, for example because it is private .
water seal
a small amount of water contained in the trap of a drain to prevent the passage of foul smells
bachelor seal
a young male seal , esp a fur seal, that has not yet mated
cylinder seal
a cylindrical seal of stone, clay , or precious stone decorated with linear designs, found in the Middle East and Balkans: dating from about 6000 bc
earless seal
any seal of the pinniped family Phocidae, typically having rudimentary hind limbs , no external earflaps , and a body covering of hair with no underfur
elephant seal
either of two large earless seals , Mirounga leonina of southern oceans or M. angustirostris of the N Atlantic , the males of which have a long trunklike snout
harbour seal
a common earless seal , Phoca vitulina, that is greyish-black with paler markings : found off the coasts of North America, N Europe, and NE Asia
Lemnian seal
the earth of the Greek island of Lemnos , which is famous for its medicinal properties
leopard seal
a yellowish-gray, spotted seal , Hydrurga leptonyx , of the Antarctic
Solomon's seal
any of several liliaceous plants of the genus Polygonatum of N temperate regions, having greenish or yellow paired flowers, long narrow waxy leaves, and a thick underground stem with prominent leaf scars
Fur Seal Islands
a group of islands in the Bering Sea, off SW Alaska , belonging to the US: the breeding ground of the northern fur seal . Area: about 168 sq km (65 sq miles)
Lord Privy Seal
(in Britain) the senior cabinet minister without official duties
seal of confession
a device impressed on a piece of wax , moist clay , etc, fixed to a letter, document, etc, as a mark of authentication
southern fur seal
an Australasian seal , Arctocephalus forsteri
under (one's) seal
in a document authenticated by one's seal
seal someone's fate
to make it certain that someone will fail or that something unpleasant will happen to them
set one's seal on
to mark with one's sign or seal
set one's seal to
to mark with one's seal
tamper-evident seal
A tamper-evident seal is a sealing device designed to reveal if the opening of a container has been interfered with.
New Zealand fur seal
an Australasian seal , Arctocephalus forsteri
set/put the seal on
If something sets or puts the seal on something, it makes it definite or confirms how it is going to be.
to seal someone's fate seal sth's fate
If something seals a person's or thing's fate , it makes it certain that they will fail or that something unpleasant will happen to them.
seal of approval stamp of approval
If a person or organization gives something their seal of approval or their stamp of approval , they officially say that they like it or think it is acceptable .
cylinder
A cylinder is an object with flat circular ends and long straight sides.
Chinese translation of 'seal'
seal
(siːl)
n(c)
(= animal) 海豹 (hǎibào) (只, zhī)
(= official stamp) 印章 (yìnzhāng) (个(個), gè)
(in fridge, machine) 密封装(裝)置 (mìfēng zhuāngzhì)
(sealed condition) 密封 (mìfēng)
vt
(= close)
[envelope]封讫(訖) (fēngqì)
[container, opening]密封 (mìfēng)
(= finalize)[agreement]使定局 (shǐ dìngjú)
to give sth one's seal of approval正式认(認)可某物 (zhèngshì rènkě mǒuwù)
to seal sb's fate注定某人的命运(運) (zhùdìng mǒurén de mìngyùn)