I.
noun
ADJECTIVE
▪ main (usually mainsail )
▪ canvas
VERB + SAIL
▪ hoist , raise , rig
▪ drop , lower
▪ adjust , trim
▪ fill
▪
The dinghy gathered speed as the wind filled her ~s.
▪ reef , shorten
▪ furl , unfurl
SAIL + VERB
▪ billow , flap , flutter
▪
The bay was full of boats with billowing ~s.
▪ fill
▪ hang
▪
The white canvas ~ hung limply against the mast.
▪ catch the air , catch the wind
▪
The ~s caught the wind once more and they were on their way.
SAIL + NOUN
▪ boat (usually sailboat ) ( AmE )
PHRASES
▪ the days of ~
▪
The boat is preserved as a monument to the days of ~.
▪ in full ~ , under full ~
▪
a pirate ship under full ~
▪ set ~ (for … )
▪
We set ~ for France at first light.
▪ under ~
▪
The ship came in under ~ and anchored near us.
II.
verb
ADVERB
▪ gracefully , serenely , smoothly
▪ single-handed
▪
to ~ single-handed around the world
▪ away , back , off , on , out , past
▪
The boat ~ed gracefully on into the distance.
VERB + SAIL
▪ know how to
▪ learn to
▪ teach sb to
PREPOSITION
▪ across
▪
He ~ed across the Atlantic.
▪ around , round ( esp. BrE )
▪
to ~ around the world
▪ for
▪
The ferry ~ed for Staten Island.
▪ from , to
▪
We were ~ing from Dover to Calais.
Sail is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑ ball , ↑ boat , ↑ ferry , ↑ ship , ↑ vessel , ↑ yacht
Sail is used with these nouns as the object: ↑ boat , ↑ dinghy , ↑ ocean , ↑ sea , ↑ ship , ↑ yacht