SEAL


Meaning of SEAL in English

~ 1

■ noun

1》 a device or substance used to join two things together or render something impervious.

↘the state or fact of being joined or rendered impervious with a ~.

2》 a piece of wax, lead, etc. with an individual design stamped into it, attached to a document as a guarantee of authenticity.

↘a design embossed in paper for this purpose.

↘an engraved device used for stamping a ~.

↘a decorative adhesive stamp.

3》 a confirmation or guarantee: a ~ of approval.

4》 ( the ~ or the ~ of the confessional ) the obligation on a priest not to divulge anything said during confession.

5》 the water standing in the trap of a drain to prevent foul air from rising.

■ verb

1》 fasten or close securely.

↘( ~ something off ) isolate an area by preventing or monitoring access to and from it.

2》 apply a non-porous coating to (a surface) to make it impervious.

3》 conclude, establish, or secure definitively: victory was ~ed.

4》 authenticate (a document) with a ~.

Phrases

my lips are ~ed I will not discuss or reveal a secret.

put (or set ) the ~ on finally confirm or conclude.

set (or put ) one's ~ to (or on) mark with one's distinctive character.

Derivatives

~able adjective

Origin

ME: from OFr. seel (n.), seeler (v.), from L. sigillum 'small picture', dimin. of signum 'a sign'.

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~ 2

■ noun a fish-eating aquatic mammal with a streamlined body and feet developed as flippers. [Families Phocidae (the true ~s ) and Otariidae ( eared ~s ): many species.]

■ verb [usu. as noun ~ing ] hunt for ~s.

Origin

OE seolh , of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.