seal
B1All registers: formal, technical, legal, and everyday. 'Seal' as a noun for the animal is common in natural contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To fasten or close something securely, making it airtight or watertight; or a device/mark used to achieve this.
1) To finalize or make something definitive and binding (e.g., a deal). 2) A carnivorous marine mammal with flippers. 3) An emblem or symbol of authenticity or authority (e.g., a royal seal). 4) The physical closure itself (e.g., the seal on a jar).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun (animal) and verb/noun (fastening) are homographs/homophones with completely unrelated etymologies. Context is critical for disambiguation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in derived forms: 'sealing' (act) vs. 'ceiling' (top of a room) are homophones in AmE but distinct in BrE ('sealing' /ˈsiːlɪŋ/ vs. 'ceiling' /ˈsiːlɪŋ/). No significant usage differences for core meanings.
Connotations
Both share similar connotations of security, finality, and authority.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
seal somethingseal something shutseal something with somethingseal something against somethingseal something inbe sealed (adjective)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “seal someone's fate”
- “set the seal on something”
- “signed and sealed”
- “my lips are sealed”
- “seal of approval”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"They hope to seal the merger by Friday."
Academic
"The treaty was sealed with the exchange of ratified documents."
Everyday
"Could you seal the leftovers before putting them in the fridge?"
Technical
"The engineers tested the pressure seal on the bulkhead."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Please seal the documents using the embosser.
- The contract was sealed in the solicitor's office.
American English
- Make sure to seal the bag tightly.
- The verdict sealed his fate.
adjective
British English
- The package was shrink-sealed for protection.
- A heat-sealed edge.
American English
- The jar has a seal-tight lid.
- It came in a factory-sealed box.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The seal at the zoo was very loud.
- Seal the envelope before you post it.
- We saw a seal swimming near the coast.
- You need to seal the joint to stop the leak.
- The agreement was sealed with a handshake and a formal ceremony.
- A broken seal on the medication means you shouldn't use it.
- The discovery of the memo effectively sealed the minister's political fate.
- The notary applied his official seal to the authenticated copy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SEAL both as an animal that swims in the SEA and as a way to SEA-L something shut, like a letter.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINALITY IS SEALING (e.g., 'That sealed the argument'), AUTHORITY/AUTHENTICATION IS A SEAL (e.g., 'the presidential seal'), CONTAINMENT IS SEALING (e.g., 'seal in the freshness').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing 'seal' (v) = запечатывать/уплотнять with 'seal' (n-animal) = тюлень. They are false friends. Also, 'seal' (n-mark) = печать. Context is key to correct translation.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I sealed the bottle to keep it airproof.' (Use 'airtight'). Incorrect: 'The letter was sealed with a tape.' (Use 'sealed with tape' or 'sealed with adhesive').
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'to seal the deal' most closely means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are etymologically unrelated homographs. The animal comes from Old English 'seolh', while the verb comes from Latin 'sigillum' via Old French.
A 'seal' (as a mark) often implies authentication, authority, or making something official and can be three-dimensional (e.g., wax). A 'stamp' is usually an inked impression for postage, approval, or marking, and is more generic.
Yes, in compound adjectives or participial forms (e.g., 'heat-sealed', 'hermetically sealed', 'factory-sealed'). It is not a standalone adjective.
It's an idiom meaning 'I promise not to tell anyone' or 'I will keep this a secret.'