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¹seal

noun \ˈsēl\

plural seals also seal

Definition of SEAL

: any of numerous carnivorous marine mammals (families Phocidae and Otariidae) that live chiefly in cold regions and have limbs modified into webbed flippers adapted primarily to swimming; especially : a fur seal or hair seal as opposed to a sea lion

a : the pelt of a fur seal

b : leather made from the skin of a seal

: a dark brown

Origin of SEAL

Middle English sele, from Old English seolh; akin to Old High German selah seal

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

Rhymes with SEAL

ceil, chiel, creel, deal, deil, eel, feel, heal, heel, keel, Kiel, kneel, leal, meal, peal, peel, real, reel, seel, shiel, speel, spiel, squeal, steal, steel, Steele, streel, teal, tuille, veal, weal, wheal, wheel, zeal

²seal

intransitive verb

Definition of SEAL

: to hunt seals

First Known Use of SEAL

1828

Other Hunting and Fishing Terms

chum, covert, creel, flense, pitfall, seine, skulk, spoor, trawl

³seal

noun

Definition of SEAL

a : something that confirms, ratifies, or makes secure : guarantee, assurance

b (1) : a device with a cut or raised emblem, symbol, or word used especially to certify a signature or authenticate a document (2) : a medallion or ring face bearing such a device incised so that it can be impressed on wax or moist clay; also : a piece of wax or a wafer bearing such an impression

c : an impression, device, or mark given the effect of a common-law seal by statute law or by American local custom recognized by judicial decision

d : a usually ornamental adhesive stamp that may be used to close a letter or package; especially : one given in a fund-raising campaign

a : something that secures (as a wax seal on a document)

b : a closure that must be broken to be opened and that thus reveals tampering

c (1) : a tight and perfect closure (as against the passage of gas or water) (2) : a device to prevent the passage or return of gas or air into a pipe or container

: a seal that is a symbol or mark of office

— under seal

: with an authenticating seal affixed

Origin of SEAL

Middle English sele, seel, from Anglo-French seal, sel, from Latin sigillum seal, from diminutive of signum sign, seal — more at sign

First Known Use: 13th century

⁴seal

transitive verb

Definition of SEAL

a : to confirm or make secure by or as if by a seal <seal the deal>

b : to solemnize for eternity (as a marriage) by a Mormon rite

a : to set or affix an authenticating seal to; also : authenticate, ratify

b : to mark with a stamp or seal usually as an evidence of standard exactness, legal size, weight, or capacity, or merchantable quality

a : to fasten with or as if with a seal to prevent tampering

b : to close or make secure against access, leakage, or passage by a fastening or coating

c : to fix in position or close breaks in with a filling (as of plaster)

: to determine irrevocably or indisputably <that answer sealed our fate>

First Known Use of SEAL

14th century

SEAL

abbreviation

Definition of SEAL

sea, air, land (team)

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical

SEALS Defined for Kids

¹seal

noun \ˈsēl\

Definition of SEAL for Kids

: a sea mammal that swims with flippers, lives mostly in cold regions, bears young on land, feeds on fish and other sea animals (as squid), and is sometimes hunted for its fur, hide, or oil

: the soft fur of a seal