[siːl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a device or substance that is used to join two things together so as to prevent them from coming apart or to prevent anything from passing between them
(e.g: attach a draught seal to the door itself)

- a piece of wax, lead, or other material with an individual design stamped into it, attached to a document as a guarantee of authenticity

- a thing regarded as a confirmation or guarantee of something
(e.g: the monarchy is the seal of the unbroached integrity of the Isles)

- the obligation on a priest not to divulge anything said during confession
(e.g: I was told under the seal)


Phrases:
- one's lips are sealed
- set one's seal on
- set the seal on

Origin:
Middle English (in seal): from Old French seel (noun), seeler (verb), from Latin sigillum ‘small picture’, diminutive of signum ‘a sign’

[siːl], (Verb)

Definitions:
- fasten or close securely
(e.g: he folded it, sealed the envelope, and walked to the postbox)

- apply a non-porous coating to (a surface) to make it impervious
(e.g: the pine boarding should be sealed with polyurethane)

- fry (food) briefly at a high temperature to prevent it from losing moisture during subsequent cooking
(e.g: heat the oil and seal the lamb on both sides)

- conclude, establish, or secure (something) definitively
(e.g: to seal the deal he offered Thornton a place on the board of the company)

- fix a piece of wax or lead stamped with a design to (a document) to authenticate it


Phrases:
- one's lips are sealed
- set one's seal on
- set the seal on

Origin:
Middle English (in seal): from Old French seel (noun), seeler (verb), from Latin sigillum ‘small picture’, diminutive of signum ‘a sign’

[siːl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a fish-eating aquatic mammal with a streamlined body and feet developed as flippers, that returns to land to breed or rest


Phrases:

Origin:
Old English seolh, of Germanic origin

[siːl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a member of an elite force within the US Navy, specializing in guerrilla warfare and counter-insurgency
(e.g: he was a Navy SEAL for eleven years)


Phrases:

Origin:
1960s: abbreviation of ‘sea, air, land (team)’