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to seal

to seal

288 2.5
To close something tightly to stop air or water getting in
  • verb
  • /siːl/
: sellar
  • To prevent the water from leaking, make sure to seal the container tightly before you store it.
  • a sealed envelope
  • hermetically sealed
  • a sealed room

It's a lot easier to seal that than it is to seal a big flat plate.

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Examples

Synonyms

to close
vsto seal
∞ 1.0

To shut something so it is not open

emphasizes preventing leaks rather than only blocking access
to shut
vsto seal
∞ 1.0

To close something so it is not open

focuses specifically on making things airtight or watertight rather than merely closed
to zip
vsto seal
92 1.0

To close something by moving a sliding tab that joins two rows of teeth

covers many closure methods beyond joining edges with a zipper
to close up
vsto seal
58 3.7

To bring the edges of something together so there is no gap

is a wider process that can include other sealing techniques
to seal off
vsto seal
26 3.7

Close something tightly so nothing can get in or out

is the general action of closing to keep air or water out
to pack
vsto seal
23 4.5

To fill a joint or gap with material to stop leaks

is a more general closing action not limited to packing materials
to seal in
vsto seal
20 3.9

Close something tightly so air, water, or flavor cannot escape

focuses on making something airtight or watertight rather than trapping contents inside
to caulk
vsto seal
  • Specialized
6 6.7

To fill a gap with waterproof material to stop water or air coming in

is broader, covering any method of making something airtight or watertight
to cork
vsto seal
6 3.9

To seal something by closing its opening with a stopper made from tree bark

is the general act of closing that can use various materials
to occlude
vsto seal
  • Specialized
3 8.4

Block an opening to stop the flow of liquid or air

adds the idea of making something airtight or watertight through closing or covering
to stopper
vsto seal
1 4.1

To close a container by putting something in its opening

can use many methods besides inserting a plug to stop leaks
to stopple
vsto seal
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To close a bottle or jar with a small plug

is not limited to using a single plug or stopper to close openings
to lute
vsto seal
  • Specialized
1 9.9

To cover a joint or container with material so it does not leak

is the broader process of closing or protecting against leaks

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To make something not closed so you can get in

16 4.3

To open something by breaking or removing a seal

Phrasal Verbs

49 3.9

Stop people from entering or leaving an area by blocking it

to seal the deal
  • Informal
31 4.0

Make an agreement official by accepting its final terms

26 3.7

Close something tightly so nothing can get in or out

20 3.9

Close something tightly so air, water, or flavor cannot escape

Open a closed container or use it for the first time

To close a letter with wax or glue so it cannot be opened without notice

Close something tightly so nothing can get in or out

Compounds

Navy SEAL
  • Formal
72 4.4

A member of a top United States Navy unit trained for special sea, air, and land missions

An official stamp shows a person in charge thinks something is good

break seal
  • Specialized
8 6.1

A seal that breaks when a package is opened to show if someone opened it

A very large seal with a nose like an elephant's trunk that lives on beaches

great seal
  • Formal
3 7.5

An official stamp used by a government to show that a document is genuine

2 3.9

A small spotted seal that lives along coasts in the Northern Hemisphere

2 4.1

A large seal with visible ears and thick fur that lives in cold seas

2 5.4

A large Arctic seal with dark curved marks on its back and white newborn pups

1 9.9

A senior UK government official who has an old title, no set duties, and sometimes has extra responsibilities

An official seal used to show a United States government document is real

A silvery-grey seal that lives in Antarctica and eats krill

golden seal
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A plant with a thick yellow root used in herbal medicine

hudson seal
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Fur from a muskrat that is dyed to look like seal fur

A six-pointed star made by two equal triangles used as a symbol of Judaism

1 6.8

A medium-sized Arctic animal that lives in the sea with long whiskers used to find food under ice

1 3.8

A small, spotted sea animal that lives on cold northern coasts

seal oil
  • Archaic
1 6.7

A yellowish liquid from seal fat that people use to make soap, treat leather, and burn in lamps

1 7.7

A medium-sized seal in Arctic waters with a large inflatable bag on its nose

A woodland plant with long curved stems, pairs of hanging green bell flowers and a thick root with round scars

1 7.0

A ring with a carved top you press into wax to make a mark

1 6.6

A large sea mammal with thick fur that lives on the Pacific coast from Alaska to California

1 9.9

A formal written agreement signed with a special stamp that has stronger force in law

earless seal
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A sea animal with no outside ear flaps and back flippers for swimming

A silvery grey seal from Antarctica that eats mainly small sea animals with shells

A sea mammal with visible ear flaps that walks on land, like sea lions and fur seals

A forest plant with smooth leaves and small hanging green flowers

A seal with thick fur that lives on rocky Pacific coasts near California and Mexico

hair seal
  • Specialized
7.3

A sea animal with no outer ears, a stiff coat of hair, and back legs like flippers

9.8

A small underwater explosive fishermen use to scare seals from fishing areas

true seal
  • Specialized
6.5

A sea mammal without visible ears, with fur and back flippers for swimming

How Airtight

to caulk
  • Specialized
6 6.7
to seal
288 2.5
to close
∞ 1.0
to cover
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

seal infinitive
sealed past
sealed past participle
sealing present participle
seals third person singular

Etymology

To seal (to close tightly) comes from the noun seal — people closed letters with a wax mark — so to seal something is to close it so nothing can get in or out.