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sea

Syllabification: (sea)
Pronunciation: /sē/
Translate sea | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of sea

noun

(often the sea)
  • the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth’s surface and surrounds its landmasses:a ban on dumping radioactive wastes in the sea rocky bays lapped by vivid blue sea [as modifier]:a sea view
  • (often in place names) a roughly definable area of this:the Black Sea
  • (often in place names) a large lake:the Sea of Galilee
  • used to refer to waves as opposed to calm sea:there was still some sea running
  • (seas) large waves:the lifeboat met seas of thirty-five feet head-on
  • a vast expanse or quantity of something:she scanned the sea of faces for Stephen

Phrases

at sea

sailing on the sea.
(also all at sea) confused or unable to decide what to do:he feels at sea with economics

by sea

by means of a ship or ships:other army units were sent by sea

go to sea

set out on a voyage.
become a sailor in a navy or a merchant navy.

on the sea

situated on the coast.

put (out) to sea

leave land on a voyage.

Origin:

Old English sǣ, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zee and German See

sea in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of sea in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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