Meaning of seal In English

• 0 a large mammal that eats fish and lives partly in the sea and partly on land or ice

• 1 something fixed around the edge of an opening to prevent liquid or gas flowing through it:

  • Clean the seal on/around the fridge door regularly so that it remains airtight.

• 2 an official mark on a document, sometimes made with wax, that shows that it is legal or has been officially approved:

  • The lawyer stamped the certificate with her seal.

• 3 to close an entrance or container so that nothing can enter or leave it

  • This floor has just been sealed (with varnish), so don't walk on it!

  • Seal the package (up) with tape.

  • He sealed (down) the envelope and put a stamp on it.

• 4 to make an agreement more certain or to approve it formally:

  • The two leaders sealed their agreement with a handshake.

• 5 in the US and some other countries, a member of an elite (= especially good and highly trained) force within the navy that deals with special operations that involve water. SEAL is an abbreviation for Sea, Air, and Land Team:

  • The 23-year-old from Massachusetts wants to become a Navy SEAL.

  • Tributes were paid to the Thai Navy Seal who died during the cave rescue.

• 6 a large, fish-eating mammal that has very thick fur and lives in the sea:

  • Seals are sometimes hunted for their valuable fur.

• 7 an official mark on a document which shows that it is legal or actually what it claims to be:

  • Diplomas are stamped with the state seal.

  • My brother’s girlfriend got my mom’s seal of approval.

• 8 anything that prevents the escape of liquid or gas from a container or pipe:

  • The oil seal broke, and all the oil leaked from the engine.

  • Don’t use that jar of baby food if the seal is broken.

• 9 to close a container or opening, or to prevent the escape of a liquid or gas from something:

  • Rubber seals jars tightly.

  • He sealed the envelope and put a stamp on it.

  • [ M ] Broiling with high heat seals in the flavor of the meat.

  • [ M ] The police sealed off the area (= prevented people from entering it).

• 10 to formally approve an agreement:

  • They sealed the agreement with their signatures.

• 11 an official mark on a document, sometimes made with wax, that shows that it is legal or has been officially approved:

  • The documents were marked with the official seal.

• 12 a thin piece of paper or plastic that covers the opening of a container and has to be broken before the contents can be used:

  • The seal on the bottle was broken.

• 13 something fixed around the edge of an opening to prevent liquid or gas flowing through it:

  • A video showed cracked seals and leaking water inside the coal mine.

• 14 if something is under seal, it cannot be seen, copied, or taken away:

  • His file is currently under seal.

• 15 to make an agreement more certain or to approve it formally:

  • seal sth with sth The loans are typically sealed with handshakes.

• 16 to close an entrance or container so that nothing can enter or leave it:

  • The doors are sealed.

• 17 to cover a surface with a special liquid in order to protect it:

  • seal sth with sth The office floors were sealed with varnish.

• 18 to close a letter or parcel by sticking the edges together:

  • seal down sth Seal down the envelope.