sail

noun12

1. •
   a large, flat shape of strong material raised high on a boat, which fills with wind and pulls it along

   • When we haue laught to see the sailes conceiue / And grow big bellied with the wanton winde; […] — 1595
2. •
   The concept of a sail or sails, as if a substance.

   • Take in sail: a storm is coming.
3. •
   A trip in a boat, especially a sailboat.

   • Let's go for a sail.
4. •
   The power harnessed by a sail or sails, or the use of this power for travel or transport.
5. •
   The blade of a windmill.
6. •
   The floating organ of siphonophores, such as the Portuguese man-of-war.
7. •
   an outward projection of the spine, occurring in certain dinosaurs and synapsids
8. •
   Anything resembling a sail, such as a wing.

   • Like an eagle […]soaring / / To weather his broad sails. — 1596
9. •
   (old-fashioned) A sailing vessel; a vessel of any kind; a craft.

   • Twenty sail were in sight.
10. •
    The conning tower of a submarine.
11. •
    A tower-like structure found on the dorsal (topside) surface of submarines.
12. •
    A sailfish.

    • We caught three sails today.

verb7

1. •
   To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by steam or other power.

   • Fair ship, that from the Italian shore, ⁠Sailest the placid ocean-plains ⁠With my lost Arthur’s loved remains, Spread thy full wings, and waft him o’er. — 1850
2. •
   To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a waterfowl.
3. •
   To ride in a boat, especially a sailboat.
4. •
   To set sail; to begin a voyage.

   • We sail for Australia tomorrow.
5. •
   To move briskly and gracefully through the air.

   • As is a winged messenger of heaven, […] / When he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds, / And sails upon the bosom of the air. — 1591
6. •
   To move briskly but sedately.

   • The duchess sailed haughtily out of the room.
7. •
   To deal out (cards) from a distance by impelling them across a surface.

   • He would sit his hat across the room, and we would sail cards into it. — 2007

noun1

1. •
   Acronym of snow avalanche impact landform.