I. ˈsē noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English see, from Old English sǣ; akin to Old Frisian sē sea, Old Saxon & Old High German sē, sēo, Old Norse sær, sjōr, sjār, Gothic saiws
1.
a. : the great body of salty water that covers much of the earth's surface : the oceans of the world with their dependent saline waters ; broadly : the waters of the earth as distinguished from the land and air
b. : a particular part of the sea
southern seas
the fair sea of England
c. : one of the bodies of salt water of the earth that are secondary in size to oceans : a body of salt water of second rank more or less landlocked and generally forming part of, or connecting with an ocean or a larger sea
the Mediterranean sea
d. : ocean — compare high sea
e. : an inland body of water especially if large or if salt or brackish
the Caspian sea
the Sea of Aral
sometimes : a small freshwater lake
the Sea of Galilee
2.
a. : surface motion on a large body of water or its direction
the sea sits southward
also : rough water : a heavy swell or wave
a sea struck us
heavy seas nearly swamped the boat
b. : the disturbance of the ocean or other body of water due to the wind blowing at the time and place of observation
mild breezes and little sea
3. : something (as a vast expanse, an overwhelming flood, or an agitated surface) felt to resemble a sea
saw only an endless sea of sandy plain
a sea of folly
lost in the seas of time
4. : the expanse of the high seas as a field of life, business, or naval operations : voyaging as a livelihood
follow the sea
retired from the sea
5. : seashore , seaside
spent the summer at the sea
6. : seawater
7. : mare III
•
- at sea
- beyond seas
- to sea
II. adjective
1. : of, relating to, or characteristic of the sea or a sea
sea arm
sea smells
2. : of or relating to a ship, ship personnel, equipment or related matters : of or used by seamen or passengers on a ship
sea discipline
3.
a. : occurring on, upon, or over the waters of the sea or a sea
sea traffic
sea routes
b. : of or relating to navigation, shipping, or similar matters
sea charts
sea terms
c. : fit for use on the high seas : seagoing
a sea yacht
4. : of or relating to the navy : naval
a sea engagement
sea bases
5. : having the sea or part of the sea for field, territory, subject, object (as of activity, interest, concern)
sea robber
a sea painter
sea poem
sea stories
sea dominion
6. : inhabiting the sea or seashore
sea nymphs
sea dwellers
7. : deposited by the sea
sea gravel
8. : of, occurring on, or belonging to the seacoast or seashore
sea forts
sea dunes
9. : coming from or showing over the sea or occurring at sea
sea clouds
the deep sea roar
10. : made, formed, or shaped by the sea or the action of the sea
a sea frontier
sea cobbles
III. abbreviation
seaman