I. CLOSING
(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
Please look at category 11 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
When you ~ 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 ~ed the envelope and put on a stamp...
Write your letter and ~ it in a blank envelope...
A courier was despatched with two ~ed envelopes.
VERB: V n, V n in n, V-ed
2.
If you ~ 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 ~ something in a container, you put it inside and then close the container tightly.
She merely filled the containers, ~ed them with a cork, and pasted on labels...
...a lid to ~ in heat and keep food moist.
...a hermetically ~ed, leak-proof packet.
VERB: V n, V n with in , V-ed
3.
The ~ on a container or opening is the part where it has been ~ed.
When assembling the pie, wet the edges where the two crusts join, to form a ~.
N-COUNT
4.
A ~ is a device or a piece of material, for example in a machine, which closes an opening tightly so that air, liquid, or other substances cannot get in or out.
Check ~s on fridges and freezers regularly.
N-COUNT: oft N on n
5.
A ~ 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 ~ on the box broke when it fell from its hiding-place...
N-COUNT: oft N on n
6.
A ~ 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 ~...
N-COUNT: usu with supp
7.
If someone in authority ~s an area, they stop people entering or passing through it, for example by placing barriers in the way.
The soldiers were deployed to help paramilitary police ~ the border...
A wide area round the two-storey building is ~ed to all traffic except the emergency services.
VERB: V n, V-ed
•
Seal off means the same as ~ .
Police and troops ~ed off the area after the attack...
Soldiers there are going to ~ the airport off.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V n P
8.
To ~ something means to make it definite or confirm how it is going to be. (WRITTEN)
McLaren are close to ~ing a deal with Renault...
His artistic character was ~ed by his experiences of the First World War.
VERB: V n, V n
9.
If something sets or puts the ~ on something, it makes it definite or confirms how it is going to be. (WRITTEN)
Such a visit may set the ~ on a new relationship between the two governments...
PHRASE: V inflects
10.
If a document is under ~, it is in a ~ed envelope and cannot be looked at, for example because it is private. (FORMAL)
Because the transcript is still under ~, I am precluded by law from discussing the evidence.
PHRASE: v-link PHR, n PHR
11.
to ~ someone’s fate: see fate
II. ANIMAL
(~s)
A ~ 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.
N-COUNT