plural seals also seal
1
: 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
2
a
: the pelt of a fur seal
b
: leather made from the skin of a seal
3
: a dark brown
1
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
2
a
: something that secures (such 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
3
: a seal that is a symbol or mark of office
sealed; sealing; seals
1
a
: to confirm or make secure by or as if by a seal
seal the deal
b
: to solemnize (something, such as a marriage) for eternity by a Mormon rite
2
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
3
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)
4
: to determine irrevocably or indisputably
that answer sealed our fate
sea, air, land (team)
Examples of seal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 8 May 2024
According to a report from the Marine Mammal Center released last month, 30 percent of the sea lions, seals and otters taken into the California facility in 2023 were victims of harassment by humans or dogs.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2024
Aircraft safety is a hot topic these days, with Federal Aviation Administration investigators looking into door seals at Boeing, aircraft slides flying off mid air and engine failures plaguing several planes in recent months.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 2 May 2024
Of course, to ensure the crew’s safety during extravehicular activities, the suit also has added seals and pressure valves.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 May 2024
Pinch the 3 longest strips (from the center) together at 1 end to seal; braid.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 May 2024
He was taken a thousand miles south to a TB sanatorium in Hamilton, Ontario, where the teen boy – used to roaming land and sea to hunt ptarmigan, seals and narwhal – was confined to a bed, not allowed to get up and walk.
—Melody Schreiber, NPR, 2 May 2024
Some, like Mosasaurus itself, were fearsome apex predators that ambushed their prey much the way large sharks hunt seals.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2024
While it's sold unrefrigerated and left out seemingly all day on restaurant tables, people are generally at odds about how the condiment should be stored once the seal has been broken.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2024
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 May 2024
What to do: To keep them outside, it is recommended to seal up any cracks and to use ant traps inside.
—Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024
And, throughout the trail, Google repeatedly fought to seal documents and shutter proceedings in public court.
—Dara Kerr, NPR, 2 May 2024
And while Baldelli’s plan wasn’t to use Duran in a save situation his first game back, Minnesota’s now-healthy closer delivered, as usual, sealing the team’s ninth-straight win.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 1 May 2024
The samples will then be automatically sealed into a biocontainment system and transferred to an Earth entry capsule, which is part of the Earth Return Orbiter.
—Chris Impey, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2024
Tesla has sought to seal from public view the terms of the settlement.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024
Some came from dentists, who explained that the dots were actually used during the toothpaste packaging process to help guide manufacturing equipment to properly cut and seal the tubes.
—New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Election officials in India prepare to seal the electronic voting machines (EVMs) as voting ends at a polling station in Chennai, southern Tamil Nadu state, April 19, 2024.
—Fahad Shah, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Apr. 2024
Noun
Deputies administered first aid at the scene, including applying tourniquets and a chest seal, until medics arrived, sheriff’s officials said.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 8 May 2024
According to a report from the Marine Mammal Center released last month, 30 percent of the sea lions, seals and otters taken into the California facility in 2023 were victims of harassment by humans or dogs.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2024
Aircraft safety is a hot topic these days, with Federal Aviation Administration investigators looking into door seals at Boeing, aircraft slides flying off mid air and engine failures plaguing several planes in recent months.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 2 May 2024
Of course, to ensure the crew’s safety during extravehicular activities, the suit also has added seals and pressure valves.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 6 May 2024
Pinch the 3 longest strips (from the center) together at 1 end to seal; braid.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 3 May 2024
He was taken a thousand miles south to a TB sanatorium in Hamilton, Ontario, where the teen boy – used to roaming land and sea to hunt ptarmigan, seals and narwhal – was confined to a bed, not allowed to get up and walk.
—Melody Schreiber, NPR, 2 May 2024
Some, like Mosasaurus itself, were fearsome apex predators that ambushed their prey much the way large sharks hunt seals.
—Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2024
While it's sold unrefrigerated and left out seemingly all day on restaurant tables, people are generally at odds about how the condiment should be stored once the seal has been broken.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2024
Verb
Boston then scored two more goals in the third — Justin Brazeau on a breakaway 7:13 into the final frame and Jake DeBrusk with the Panthers’ net empty with 3:22 left in regulation — to seal the win for Boston.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 May 2024
What to do: To keep them outside, it is recommended to seal up any cracks and to use ant traps inside.
—Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024
And, throughout the trail, Google repeatedly fought to seal documents and shutter proceedings in public court.
—Dara Kerr, NPR, 2 May 2024
And while Baldelli’s plan wasn’t to use Duran in a save situation his first game back, Minnesota’s now-healthy closer delivered, as usual, sealing the team’s ninth-straight win.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 1 May 2024
The samples will then be automatically sealed into a biocontainment system and transferred to an Earth entry capsule, which is part of the Earth Return Orbiter.
—Chris Impey, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2024
Tesla has sought to seal from public view the terms of the settlement.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 26 Apr. 2024
Some came from dentists, who explained that the dots were actually used during the toothpaste packaging process to help guide manufacturing equipment to properly cut and seal the tubes.
—New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Election officials in India prepare to seal the electronic voting machines (EVMs) as voting ends at a polling station in Chennai, southern Tamil Nadu state, April 19, 2024.
—Fahad Shah, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seal. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
seal
1 of 4 noun
plural seals also seal
1
: any of numerous marine mammals that live mostly in cold regions, feed especially on fish, mate and give birth to young on land, and use short webbed flippers to swim and dive
2
a
: the soft dense fur of a seal
b
: leather made from the skin of a seal
seal
2 of 4 verb
: to hunt seals
seal
3 of 4 noun1
a
: something (as a pledge) that makes safe or secure
under seal of secrecy
b
: a device with a cut or raised design or figure that can be pressed or stamped into paper or wax to form a mark (as for certifying a signature)
c
: a usually ornamental adhesive stamp that may be used to close a letter or package
Christmas seals
2
a
: something that is attached to a closed container and has to be broken in order to open the container
b
: a tight and perfect closing
test the seal of the jars
seal
4 of 4 verb1
: to mark with a seal
seal a deed
2
: to close with or as if with a seal
the sheriff sealed the area
ice sealed the ships into the harbor
3
: to decide finally
Etymology
Noun
Old English seolh "seal (marine animal)"
Noun
Middle English sele, seel "pledge, guarantee," from early French seal, sel (same meaning), from Latin sigillum "seal," literally, "small sign, small image," from signum "mark, sign, image" — related to sign entry 1
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