sea

ocean; overwhelming quantity: a sea of troubles

Not to be confused with:

see – to perceive with the eyes; to perceive mentally: I see your point.

sea

(sē)

1. The continuous body of salt water covering most of the earth's surface, especially this body regarded as a geophysical entity distinct from earth and sky.

a. A tract of water within an ocean.

b. A relatively large body of salt water completely or partially enclosed by land.

c. A relatively large landlocked body of fresh water.

a. The condition of the ocean's surface with regard to its course, flow, swell, or turbulence: a rising sea; choppy seas.

b. A wave or swell, especially a large one: a 40-foot sea that broke over the stern.

4. Something that suggests the ocean in its overwhelming sweep or vastness: a sea of controversy.

5. Seafaring as a way of life.

6. Astronomy A lunar mare.

Idiom:

at sea

1. On the sea, especially on a sea voyage.

2. In a state of confusion or perplexity; at a loss.

[Middle English see, from Old English sǣ.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

sea

(siː)

1. (Physical Geography)

a. the sea the mass of salt water on the earth's surface as differentiated from the land. marinemaritimethalassic

b. (as modifier): sea air.

2. (Physical Geography) (capital when part of place name)

a. one of the smaller areas of ocean: the Irish Sea.

b. a large inland area of water: the Caspian Sea.

3. (Physical Geography) turbulence or swell, esp of considerable size: heavy seas.

4. (Astronomy) (capital when part of a name) astronomy any of many huge dry plains on the surface of the moon. See also mare²

5. anything resembling the sea in size or apparent limitlessness

6. (Nautical Terms) the life or career of a sailor (esp in the phrase follow the sea)

7. (Nautical Terms) on the ocean

8. in a state of confusion

9. go to sea to become a sailor

10. (Nautical Terms) put to sea put out to sea to embark on a sea voyage

[Old English sǣ; related to Old Norse sǣr, Old Frisian sē, Gothic saiws, Old High German sēo]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sea

(si)

n.

1. the salt waters that cover the greater part of the earth's surface.

2. a division of these waters, of considerable extent, marked off by land boundaries; ocean: the North Sea.

3. a large, landlocked body of water.

4. the turbulence of the ocean or other body of water, as caused by the wind.

5. the waves.

6. a large wave: The heavy seas almost drowned us.

7. a widely extended or overwhelming quantity: a sea of faces; a sea of troubles.

8. the work, travel, and shipboard life of a sailor.

adj.

9. of, pertaining to, or adapted for use at sea.

Idioms:

1. at sea,

a. on the ocean.

b. perplexed; uncertain. Also, asea.

2. follow the sea, to pursue a nautical career.

3. go to sea,

a. to set out on a voyage.

b. to embark on a nautical career.

4. put (out) to sea, to embark on a sea voyage.

[before 900; Middle English see, Old English sǣ, c. Old Frisian sē, Old Saxon, Old High German sē(o), Old Norse sær sea, Gothic saiws sea, marsh]

sea

(sē)

1. The continuous body of salt water that covers most of the Earth's surface. See Note at ocean.

2. A region of water within an ocean and partly enclosed by land, such as the North Sea.

3. A large body of either fresh or salt water that is completely enclosed by land, such as the Caspian Sea.

4. A mare of the moon.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Sea

a great quanitity; a flood; anything resembling the seas.

Examples: sea of acclamations, 1632; of blood, 1598; of cares, 1574; of carpets, 1654; of claret, 1821; of clouds, 1644; of discussions, 1816; of examples, 1586; of eager faces, 1862; of forces and passion, 1667; of glory, 1613; of heads, 1849; of sand 1770; of seaweed; of white tents, 1898; of troubles, 1602; of green vegetation, 1869; of wine, 1646; of wrath, 1692; of seas of time, 1822.

sea

A subdivision of an ocean, or a large landlocked expanse of salt water.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	sea - a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land bay, embayment - an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf body of water, water - the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean); "they invaded our territorial waters"; "they were sitting by the water's edge" gulf - an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay hydrosphere - the watery layer of the earth's surface; includes water vapor inlet, recess - an arm off of a larger body of water (often between rocky headlands) South Sea - any sea to the south of the equator (but especially the South Pacific)
	2.	sea - anything apparently limitless in quantity or volume ocean large indefinite amount, large indefinite quantity - an indefinite quantity that is above the average in size or magnitude
	3.	sea - turbulent water with swells of considerable size; "heavy seas" turbulent flow - flow in which the velocity at any point varies erratically head sea - a sea in which the waves are running directly against the course of the ship

sea

noun

1. ocean, the deep, the waves, the drink (informal), the briny (informal), main Most of the kids have never seen the sea.

2. mass, lot, lots (informal), army, host, crowd, collection, sheet, assembly, mob, congregation, legion, abundance, swarm, horde, multitude, myriad, throng, expanse, plethora, profusion, concourse, assemblage, vast number, great number Down below them was the sea of upturned faces.

adjective

1. marine, ocean, maritime, aquatic, oceanic, saltwater, ocean-going, seagoing, pelagic, briny, salt a sea vessel

at sea bewildered, lost, confused, puzzled, uncertain, baffled, adrift, perplexed, disconcerted, at a loss, mystified, disoriented, bamboozled (informal), flummoxed, at sixes and sevens I'm totally at sea with popular culture.

Related words
adjective marine, maritime, thalassic
like thalassomania
fear thalassophobia

Quotations
"the wine-dark sea" [Homer Iliad]
"ocean: a body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man - who has no gills" [Ambrose Bierce The Devil's Dictionary]

Seas and oceans

Seas Adriatic, Aegean, Amundsen, Andaman, Arabian, Arafura, Aral, Azov, Baltic, Banda, Barents, Beaufort, Bellingshausen, Bering, Bismarck, Black or Euxine, Caribbean, Caspian, Celebes, Ceram, China, Chukchi, Coral, East China, East Siberian, Flores, Icarian, Inland, Ionian, Irish, Japan, Java, Kara, Laptev, Ligurian, Lincoln, Marmara or Marmora, Mediterranean, Nordenskjöld, North, Norwegian, Okhotsk, Philippine, Red, Ross, Sargasso, Scotia, Solomon, South China, Sulu, Tasman, Timor, Tyrrhenian, Weddell, White, Yellow or Hwang Hai

Oceans Antarctic or Southern, Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

بَحْرحالَةٌ مُعَيَّنَةٌ من البَحْرمنطِقَة مُعَيَّنَه من البَحْر

море

mořemořský

havhav-bølgegang

Meer See Seegang

θάλασσα πέλαγος θαλάσσιος

maro

mar

meri

دریا

meri

mer

more

tenger

laut

hafsjór, haf

mare navale pelago essere in alto mare

海

바다

marepelagus

išplaukti į jūrąjūrajūreiviaujantisjūrinisjūrinis brizas

jūra

mare

море морской морской виноград кокколоба

more

morjena morjupo morju

havsjö

ทะเล

denizdenizidalga

море

biểnhải

海海域海洋内海

sea

[siː]

A. N

1. (= not land) → mar m (or f in some phrases)
(out) at sea → en alta mar
to spend three years at sea → pasar tres años navegando
to remain two months at sea → estar navegando durante dos meses, pasar dos meses en el mar
beside the sea → a la orilla del mar, junto al mar
beyond the seas → más allá de los mares
from beyond the seas → desde más allá de los mares
to go by sea → ir por mar
a house by the sea → una casa junto al mar or a la orilla del mar
heavy sea(s) → mar agitado or picado
to ship a heavy sea → ser inundado por una ola grande
on the high seas → en alta mar
on the sea (boat) → en alta mar
rough sea(s) → mar agitado or picado
to sail the seas → navegar los mares
the seven seas → todos los mares del mundo
in Spanish seas → en aguas españolas
the little boat was swept out to sea → la barquita fue arrastrada mar adentro
to go to sea [person] → hacerse marinero
to put (out) to sea [sailor, boat] → hacerse a la mar, zarpar
to stand out to sea → apartarse de la costa
to be all at sea (about or with sth) → estar en un lío (por algo)
worse things happen at sea → cosas peores ocurren por ahí
see also north

2. (fig)
a sea of blood → un río or mar de sangre
a sea of corn → un mar de espigas
a sea of faces → un mar de caras
a sea of flame → un mar de llamas
a sea of troubles → un mar de penas

B. CPD sea air N → aire m de mar
sea anemone N → anémona f de mar
sea bass N → corvina f
sea bathing N → baño m en el mar
sea battle N → batalla f naval
sea bed N → fondo m del mar, lecho m marino (frm)
sea bird N → ave f marina
sea boot N → bota f de marinero
sea bream N → besugo m
sea breeze N → brisa f marina
sea captain N → capitán m de barco
sea change N (fig) → viraje m, cambio m radical
sea chest (o.f.) N → cofre m
sea coast N → litoral m, costa f marítima
sea cow N → manatí m
sea crossing N → travesía f
sea dog N (lit, fig) → lobo m de mar
sea fight N → combate m naval
sea fish N → pez m marino
sea front N → paseo m marítimo
sea green N → verde mar m
see also sea-green sea horse N → caballito m de mar, hipocampo m
sea kale N → col f marina
sea lamprey N → lamprea f marina
sea lane N → ruta f marítima
sea legs NPL to find one's sea legs → mantener el equilibrio (en barco)
sea level N → nivel m del mar
800 metres above sea level → 800 metros sobre el nivel del mar
sea lion N → león m marino
sea mist N → bruma f marina
sea perch N → perca f de mar
sea power N → potencia f naval
sea room N → espacio m para maniobrar
sea route N → ruta f marítima
sea salt N → sal f marina
sea serpent N → serpiente f de mar
sea shanty N → saloma f
sea transport N → transporte m por mar, transporte m marítimo
sea trip N → viaje m por mar
sea trout N → trucha f marina, reo m
sea urchin N → erizo m de mar
sea wall N → malecón m, rompeolas m inv
sea water N → agua f de mar
sea wrack N → algas fpl (en la playa)

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

sea

[ˈsiː]

(= expanse of water) → mer f
We swam in the sea → Nous avons nagé dans la mer.
the Sea of Galilee → la mer de Galilée
to be swept out to sea → être emporté(e) par les flots
a heavy sea → une mer agitée
by sea [travel, transport] → par mer
by the sea [holiday] → au bord de la mer; [village, town, house] → au bord de la mer
beside the sea [holiday] → en bord de mer; [village, town, house] → en bord de mer
on the sea [boat] → en mer; [town] → au bord de la mer
to look out to sea → regarder vers la mer
out at sea → en mer
a storm at sea → une tempête en mer
to go to sea [person, ship] → prendre la mer
to put to sea → prendre la mer
to be all at sea (= confused, uncertain) → nager complètement

[troubles, misery, sorrow] → océan m; [mud, blood] → mer f; [flags, faces] → mer f
a sea of blood → une mer de sang
a sea of faces → une mer de visages

modif [angler, angling, fishing] → en mer; [rescue] → en mer; [temperature] → de la mer; [travel, voyage] → par mer; [creature, life, mammals, monster] → marin(e); [snake] → de mer
sea spray → embruns mpl sea anemone, sea bass, sea grass, sea legs

seas npl → mers fpl
heavy seas → mer forte
rough seas → mer agitéesea air n → air m marinsea anemone n → anémone f de mersea bass [ˈsiːbæs] n → bar m, loup m (en méditerranée)

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

sea

→ Meer nt, → See f; by sea → auf dem Seeweg; to travel by sea → mit dem Schiff fahren; a town by or on the sea → eine Stadt am Meer or an der See; (out) at sea → auf See; as I looked out to sea → als ich aufs Meer hinausblickte; to be all at sea (fig) → nicht durchblicken (with bei) (inf); I’m all at sea about how to answer this question → ich habe keine Ahnung, wie ich die Frage beantworten soll; that left him all at sea → er hatte überhaupt keinen Durchblick (inf); to go to sea → zur See gehen; to put to sea → in See stechen; beyond the seas (dated) → überm großen Meer (old), → in Übersee

(= state of the sea) → See f no pl, → Seegang m; heavy/strong seas → schwere/raue See

(fig) → Meer nt; a sea of faces → ein Meer von Gesichtern; a sea of flames → ein Flammenmeer

sea

sea air

n → Seeluft f

sea anemone

n → Seeanemone f

sea animal

n → Meerestier nt

sea-based

adj missiles → seegestützt

sea bathing

n → Baden nt → im Meer

sea battle

n → Seeschlacht f

seabed

n → Meeresboden m, → Meeresgrund m (geh)

sea bird

n → Seevogel m

seaboard

n (US) → Küste f

seaborne

adj attack, landing → von See; fruit, articles etc → auf dem Seeweg befördert; sea goods → Seefrachtgüter pl; sea trade → Seehandel m

sea breeze

n → Seewind m

sea calf

n → Meerkalb nt, → Seehund m

sea change

n → totale Veränderung

sea coast

n → Meeresküste f

sea cow

n → Seekuh f

sea cucumber

n → Seegurke f, → Seewalze f

sea defences, (US) sea defenses

pl → Hochwasserschutzmaßnahmen pl

sea dog

n (inf: = sailor) → Seebär m; (= seal) → Seehund m

sea elephant

n → Elefantenrobbe f, → See-Elefant m, → Seeelefant m

seafarer

n → Seefahrer(in) m(f)

seafaring

adj nation, people → seefahrend; boat → hochseetüchtig; sea man → Seefahrer m; he has little sea experience → er hat wenig Erfahrung auf See

n → Seefahrt f

sea fight

n → Seegefecht nt

seafish

n → See- or Meeresfisch m

seafloor

n → Meeresboden m

sea fog

n → Küstennebel m, → Seenebel m

seafood

n → Meeresfrüchte pl; sea restaurant → Fischrestaurant nt

seafront

n (= beach) → Strand m; (= promenade) → Strandpromenade f

sea god

n → Meer(es)gott m

sea goddess

n → Meer(es)göttin f

seagoing

adj boat etc → hochseetüchtig; sea nation → Seefahrernation f

seagrass

n (Bot) → Seegras nt

sea green

n → Meergrün nt

sea-green

adj → meergrün

seagull

n → Möwe f

sea horse

n → Seepferdchen nt

sea kale

n → See- or Strandkohl m

sea

sea-launched

adj missiles → seegestützt

sea legs

pl to get or find one’s sea (inf) → standfest werden

sea

seapiece

n (Painting) → Seestück nt

sea pink

n → (gemeine) Grasnelke

seaplane

n → Wasserflugzeug nt

seaport

n → Seehafen m

sea power

n → Seemacht f

seaquake

n → Seebeben nt

sea

seascape

n → Seestück nt

sea serpent

n → Seeschlange f

sea shanty

n → Seemannslied nt

seashell

n → Muschel(schale) f

seashore

n → Strand m; on the sea → am Strand; the life found on the sea → die Strandflora und -fauna

seasick

adj → seekrank

seasickness

n → Seekrankheit f

seaside

n at the sea → am Meer; to go to the sea → ans Meer fahren

attr → See-; town → am Meer; sea café → Strandcafé nt; sea holidays (Brit) → Ferien pl → am Meer

seaside resort

n → Seebad nt

sea snake

n (Zool) → Seeschlange f

sea

sea transport

n → Seetransport m

sea trip

n → Seereise f

sea trout

n → Meerforelle f

sea turtle

n → Meeresschildkröte f

sea urchin

n → Seeigel m

sea view

n → Seeblick m

sea wall

n → Deich m

seaward

adj direction, course → aufs Meer hinaus; sea wind → Seewind m; the sea side of the quay → die seewärtige Seite des Kais

adv (also seawards) → see- or meerwärts

sea water

n → Meer- or Seewasser nt

seaway

n (= route) → Seestraße f; (= waterway) → Wasserweg m → or -straße f

seaweed

n → (Meeres)alge f, → (See)tang m, → Seegras nt

seaworthy

adj → seetüchtig

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

sea

[siː]

1. n → mare m
by or beside the sea (holiday) → al mare (village) → sul mare
on the sea (boat) → sul mare, in mare (village, town) → sul mare
to go by sea → andare per mare
to go to sea (person) → diventare marinaio
to put to sea (sailor) → uscire in mare (boat) → salpare
to spend 3 years at sea → passare 3 anni in mare
(out) at sea → al largo
to look out to sea → guardare il mare
heavy or rough sea(s) → mare grosso or agitato
to be all at sea (about or with sth) (fig) → non capirci niente (di qc)
a sea of faces (fig) → una marea di gente

2. adj (salt) → marino/a; (fish, air) → di mare; (route, transport, port) → marittimo/a; (battle, power) → navale

sea

(siː) noun

1. (often with the) the mass of salt water covering most of the Earth's surface. I enjoy swimming in the sea; over land and sea; The sea is very deep here; (also adjective) A whale is a type of large sea animal.

2. a particular area of sea. the Baltic Sea; These fish are found in tropical seas.

3. a particular state of the sea. mountainous seas.

ˈseaward(s) adverb

towards the sea; away from the land. The yacht left the harbour and sailed seawards.

ˈseaboard noun

the seacoast. the eastern seaboard of the United States.

sea breeze

a breeze blowing from the sea towards the land.

ˈseafaring adjective

of work or travel on ships. a seafaring man.

ˈseafood noun

fish, especially shellfish.

adjective

seafood restaurants.

ˈseafront noun

a promenade or part of a town with its buildings facing the sea.

ˈsea-going adjective

designed and equipped for travelling on the sea. a sea-going yacht.

ˈseagull noun

a gull.

sea level

the level of the surface of the sea used as a base from which the height of land can be measured. three hundred metres above sea level.

ˈsea-lion noun

a type of large seal.

ˈseaman – plural ˈseamen – noun

a sailor, especially a member of a ship's crew who is not an officer.

ˈseaport noun

a port on the coast.

ˈseashell noun

the (empty) shell of a sea creature.

ˈseashore noun

the land close to the sea.

ˈseasick adjective

ill because of the motion of a ship at sea. Were you seasick on the voyage?

ˈseasickness noun

ˈseaside noun

(usually with the) a place beside the sea. We like to go to the seaside in the summer.

ˈseaweed noun

plants growing in the sea. The beach was covered with seaweed.

ˈseaworthy adjective

(negative unseaworthy) (of a ship) suitably built and in good enough condition to sail at sea.

ˈseaworthiness noun

at sea

1. on a ship and away from land. He has been at sea for four months.

2. puzzled or bewildered. Can I help you? You seem all at sea.

go to sea

to become a sailor. He wants to go to sea.

put to sea

to leave the land or a port. They planned to put to sea the next day.

sea

→ بَحْر moře hav Meer θάλασσα mar meri mer more mare 海 바다 zee sjø morze mar море hav ทะเล deniz biển 海