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   Seal

   /sē(ə)l/

   

   noun

   • 1. 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: "blue smoke from the exhaust suggests worn valve seals" Similar sealantsealeradhesive
   • ▪ the state or fact of being joined or rendered impervious with a seal: "many fittings have tapered threads for a better seal"
   • ▪ the water standing in the trap of a drain to prevent sewer gas from backing up through the drain, considered in terms of its depth: "for most domestic applications, a 75 mm seal is required"
   • 2. a piece of wax, lead, or other material with an individual design stamped into it, attached to a document to show that it has come from the person who claims to have issued it. Similar emblemsymbolinsigniadevicebadgecrestcoat of armstokenmarkmonogramstamp
   • ▪ a design resembling a seal embossed in paper as a guarantee of authenticity.
   • ▪ an engraved device used for stamping a design that authenticates a document.
   • ▪ a decorative adhesive stamp.
   • 3. a thing regarded as a confirmation or guarantee of something: "the International Monetary Fund is likely to give a seal of approval to the Mexican plan"
   • 4. the obligation on a priest not to divulge anything said during confession: "I was told under the seal"

   verb

   • 1. fasten or close securely: "he folded it, sealed the envelope, and walked to the mailbox" Similar fastensecureshutclose uplockboltboard upstop upseal upmake airtightmake watertightcloseshutcorkstopperstopplugblockblock upbung upclogclog upchokeoccludefill
   • 2. apply a nonporous coating to (a surface) to make it impervious: "seal the finish with a satin varnish"
   • 3. fry (food) briefly in hot fat to prevent it from losing too much of its moisture during subsequent cooking: "heat the oil and seal the lamb on both sides"
   • 4. conclude, establish, or secure (something) definitively, excluding the possibility of reversal or loss: "to seal the deal he offered Thornton a place on the board of the nascent company" Similar clinchsecuresettleconcludecompleteestablishset the seal oncapwind upcloseinformal:sew up
   • 5. fix a piece of wax or lead stamped with a design to (a document) to authenticate it.

   Word Origin Middle English (in seal1 (sense 2 of the noun)): from Old French seel (noun), seeler (verb), from Latin sigillum ‘small picture’, diminutive of signum ‘a sign’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. sealable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 4

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

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