sea
♦♦ sea /s'iː/ (seas)
1 [N-SING] the N, also by N
The sea is the salty water that covers about three-quarters of the earth's surface.
Most of the kids have never seen the sea...
All transport operations, whether by sea, rail or road, are closely monitored at all times.
= ocean
2 [N-PLURAL]
You use seas when you are describing the sea at a particular time or in a particular area. (LITERARY)
He drowned after 30 minutes in the rough seas...
3 [N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES]
A sea is a large area of salty water that is part of an ocean or is surrounded by land.
...the North Sea.
...the huge inland sea of Turkana.
4 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
At sea means on or under the sea, far away from land.
The boats remain at sea for an average of ten days at a time...
5 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you go or look out to sea, you go or look across the sea.
...fishermen who go to sea for two weeks at a time...
He pointed out to sea.sea air
[N-UNCOUNT]
The sea air is the air at the seaside, which is regarded as being good for people's health.
I took a deep breath of the fresh sea air.sea breeze (sea breezes)
[N-COUNT]
A sea breeze is a light wind blowing from the sea towards the land.sea cap|tain (sea captains)
[N-COUNT]
A sea captain is a person in command of a ship, usually a ship that carries goods for trade.sea change (sea changes)
[N-COUNT]
A sea change in someone's attitudes or behaviour is a complete change.
A sea change has taken place in young people's attitudes to their parents.sea dog (sea dogs)
also seadog
[N-COUNT]
A sea dog is a sailor is who has spent many years at sea. (OLD-FASHIONED)sea lane (sea lanes)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Sea lanes are particular routes which ships regularly use in order to cross a sea or ocean.sea lev|el
also sea-level
[N-UNCOUNT]
Sea level is the average level of the sea with respect to the land. The height of mountains or other areas is calculated in relation to sea level.
The stadium was 2275 metres above sea level...sea lion (sea lions)
also sea-lion
[N-COUNT]
A sea lion is a type of large seal.sea pow|er (sea powers)
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Sea power is the size and strength of a country's navy.
The transformation of American sea power began in 1940.
2 [N-COUNT]
A sea power is a country that has a large navy.sea tur|tle (sea turtles)
[N-COUNT]
A sea turtle is a large reptile which has a thick shell covering its body and which lives in the sea most of the time. (AM; in BRIT, use turtle)sea ur|chin (sea urchins)
[N-COUNT]
A sea urchin is a small round sea creature that has a hard shell covered with sharp points.sea wall (sea walls)
[N-COUNT]
A sea wall is a wall built along the edge of the sea to stop the sea flowing over the land or destroying it.
Cherbourg had a splendid harbour enclosed by a long sea wall.sea wa|ter
also seawater
[N-UNCOUNT]
Sea water is salt water from the sea.
1 [N-SING] the N, also by N
The sea is the salty water that covers about three-quarters of the earth's surface.
Most of the kids have never seen the sea...
All transport operations, whether by sea, rail or road, are closely monitored at all times.
= ocean
2 [N-PLURAL]
You use seas when you are describing the sea at a particular time or in a particular area. (LITERARY)
He drowned after 30 minutes in the rough seas...
3 [N-COUNT; N-IN-NAMES]
A sea is a large area of salty water that is part of an ocean or is surrounded by land.
...the North Sea.
...the huge inland sea of Turkana.
4 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
At sea means on or under the sea, far away from land.
The boats remain at sea for an average of ten days at a time...
5 [PHRASE] PHR after v
If you go or look out to sea, you go or look across the sea.
...fishermen who go to sea for two weeks at a time...
He pointed out to sea.sea air
[N-UNCOUNT]
The sea air is the air at the seaside, which is regarded as being good for people's health.
I took a deep breath of the fresh sea air.sea breeze (sea breezes)
[N-COUNT]
A sea breeze is a light wind blowing from the sea towards the land.sea cap|tain (sea captains)
[N-COUNT]
A sea captain is a person in command of a ship, usually a ship that carries goods for trade.sea change (sea changes)
[N-COUNT]
A sea change in someone's attitudes or behaviour is a complete change.
A sea change has taken place in young people's attitudes to their parents.sea dog (sea dogs)
also seadog
[N-COUNT]
A sea dog is a sailor is who has spent many years at sea. (OLD-FASHIONED)sea lane (sea lanes)
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Sea lanes are particular routes which ships regularly use in order to cross a sea or ocean.sea lev|el
also sea-level
[N-UNCOUNT]
Sea level is the average level of the sea with respect to the land. The height of mountains or other areas is calculated in relation to sea level.
The stadium was 2275 metres above sea level...sea lion (sea lions)
also sea-lion
[N-COUNT]
A sea lion is a type of large seal.sea pow|er (sea powers)
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
Sea power is the size and strength of a country's navy.
The transformation of American sea power began in 1940.
2 [N-COUNT]
A sea power is a country that has a large navy.sea tur|tle (sea turtles)
[N-COUNT]
A sea turtle is a large reptile which has a thick shell covering its body and which lives in the sea most of the time. (AM; in BRIT, use turtle)sea ur|chin (sea urchins)
[N-COUNT]
A sea urchin is a small round sea creature that has a hard shell covered with sharp points.sea wall (sea walls)
[N-COUNT]
A sea wall is a wall built along the edge of the sea to stop the sea flowing over the land or destroying it.
Cherbourg had a splendid harbour enclosed by a long sea wall.sea wa|ter
also seawater
[N-UNCOUNT]
Sea water is salt water from the sea.