sail1 /seɪl/ ●●● S3 verb → sale1 [intransitiveI always + adverbadv/prepositionprep, transitiveT]TTW to travel on or across an area of water in a boat or ship (乘船)航行sail across/into/out of etc the first Europeans to sail across the Atlantic 乘船横渡大西洋的首批欧洲人
Three tall ships sailed past. 三艘大船驶了过去。
She always wanted to sail around the world. 她一直想要乘船环游世界。
sail the Pacific/the Atlantic etc We’re taking two months off to sail the Caribbean. 我们要请两个月假去加勒比海航行。
2 [intransitiveI]TTW to start a journey by boat or ship 起航 We sail at dawn. 我们在黎明时起航。
sail for They’re sailing for Antigua next week. 他们下星期要起航前往安提瓜岛。
3 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]TTW to direct or control the movement of a boat or ship that has a sail 驾驶(船只) Blake sailed the ship safely through the narrow passage. 布莱克驾船安全驶过这条狭窄的航道。
My father taught me to sail. 我父亲教过我驾船。
4 [intransitiveI always + adverbadv/prepositionprep]TTA to move quickly and smoothly through the air 飘过;飞过sail through/over/into etc A ball came sailing over the fence. 一只球飞过围栏。
5 [intransitiveI always + adverbadv/prepositionprep]WALK to move forwards gracefully and confidently 优雅而自信地走 She sailed into the room. 她翩然走进房间。
6. sail close to the wind British EnglishBrERISK to do or say something that is nearly wrong, illegal, or dishonest 近乎违法;几乎逾规;近乎说谎sail close to the wind• They had quite a reputation for sailing close to the wind.• With his own property, it was perhaps easier too for a baron to take risks or sail close to the wind. 7 sail through something phrasal verbphr v SEPASS A TESTto succeed very easily in a test, examination etc 顺利通过〔考试等〕 Adam sailed through his final exams. 亚当顺利地通过了期终考试。
sail for• What year did Columbus sail for the New World?