1. Nautical.
   1. A piece of fabric sewn together and fitted to the spars and rigging of a vessel so as to convert the force of the wind into forward motion of the vessel.
   2. The sails of a ship or boat.
   3. The superstructure of a submarine.
2. pl., sail, or sails. Nautical. A sailing vessel.
3. Nautical. A trip or voyage in a sailing craft.
4. Something, such as the blade of a windmill, that resembles a sail in form or function.

1. Nautical.
   1. To move across the surface of water, especially by means of a sailing vessel.
   2. To travel by water in a vessel.
   3. To start out on such a voyage or journey.
   4. To operate a sailing craft, especially for sport.
2. To move along or progress smoothly or effortlessly: sailed into the room five minutes late; sailed through the exam; sailed through the red light.

1. To navigate or manage (a vessel).
2. To voyage upon or across: sail the Pacific.

sail into

1. To attack or criticize vigorously: sailed into the workmen for the shoddy job they were doing.

[Middle English seil, from Old English segl. Sail into, from obsolete sail, to attack, from Middle English sailen, short for assailen. See assail.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.