English主要词典
seal
Universal Words
noun, verb
noun
sea animal
1 [C] a sea animal that eats fish and lives around coasts. There are many types of seal, some of which are hunted for their fur:
a colony of seals * grey seals basking on the rocks * The annual seal hunt takes place on the pack ice off Greenland.
official mark
2 [C] an official design or mark, stamped on a document to show that it is genuine and carries the authority of a particular person or organization:
The letter bore the president's seal.
making sth definite
3 [sing.] a thing that makes sth definite:
The project has been given the government's seal of approval (= official approval). * I looked upon the gift as a seal on our friendship.
on containers
4 [C] a substance, strip of material, etc. used to fill a crack so that air, liquid, etc. cannot get in or out:
a jar with a rubber seal in the lid * Only drink bottled water and check the seal isn't broken.
on letters / boxes
5 [C] a piece of WAX (= a soft substance produced by bees), soft metal or paper that is placed across the opening of sth such as a letter or box and which has to be broken before the letter or box can be opened:
He broke the wax seal and unrolled the paper.
6 a piece of metal, a ring, etc. with a design on it, used for stamping a WAX or metal seal
IDIOMS
set the seal on sth (formal) to make sth definite or complete:
Her election to the premiership set the seal on a remarkable political career.
under seal (formal) (of a document) in a sealed envelope that cannot be opened before a particular time
verb [VN]
close envelope
1 ~ sth (up / down) to close an envelope, etc. by sticking the edges of the opening together:
Make sure you've signed the cheque before sealing the envelope. * a sealed bid (= one that is kept in a sealed envelope and therefore remains secret until all other bids have been received)
close container
2 [oftenpassive] ~ sth (up) (with sth) to close a container tightly or fill a crack, etc., especially so that air, liquid, etc. cannot get in or out:
The organs are kept in sealed plastic bags.
cover surface
3 [oftenpassive] ~ sth (with sth) to cover the surface of sth with a substance in order to protect it:
The floors had been stripped and sealed with varnish.
make sth definite
4 (written) to make sth definite, so that it cannot be changed or argued about:
to seal a contract / deal * They drank a glass of wine to seal their new friendship. * The discovery of new evidence sealed his fate (= nothing could prevent what was going to happen to him). * She sealed victory with a birdie at the final hole.
close borders / exits
5 (of the police, army, etc.) to prevent people from passing through a place:
Troops have sealed the borders between the countries.
IDIOMS see LIP, SIGNv.
PHRASALVERBS
seal sth<->in to prevent sth that is contained in sth else from escaping:
Fold the pastry over at the ends to seal in the juices.
seal sth in sth to put sth in an envelope, container, etc. and seal it:
The body was sealed in a lead coffin.
seal sth<->off (of the police, army) to prevent people from entering a particular area:
Troops sealed off the site following a bomb alert. * The road will remain sealed off until the police have completed their investigations.
