fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm; used for sealing documents and parcels and letters
"She carefully pressed the hot wax seal onto the envelope to secure her letter."
a stamp affixed to a document (as to attest to its authenticity or to seal it)
"the warrant bore the sheriff's seal"
an indication of approved or superior status
"The golden emblem on his jacket serves as a seal of approval for his exceptional service in the field."
a finishing coat applied to exclude moisture
"The painter rolled on a clear seal over the new wood floor to protect it from water damage before installing the furniture."
fastener that provides a tight and perfect closure
"She carefully pressed the wax seal onto the envelope to ensure a tight and perfect closure before mailing it."
any of numerous marine mammals that come on shore to breed; chiefly of cold regions
"The humpback seals arrived at the icy cove last week to give birth and raise their pups."
A pinniped (Pinnipedia), particularly an earless seal (true seal) or eared seal.
"After years of rigorous training and deployment in hostile territories, the veteran finally retired from his role as a Navy SEAL."
A stamp used to impress a design on a soft substance such as wax.
Short for Navy SEAL (“member of the Sea, Air, Land unit”).
In plain English: A seal is an animal that lives both on land and in water, known for its smooth skin and ability to swim very well.
"The hunter shot the deer to ensure its carcass remained sealed until it could be transported home."
hunt seals
"The coastal community relied on seal hunting to sustain their families during the harsh winter months."
To hunt seals.
"The farmer went early each morning to seal the cattle into their individual stalls before the herd moved out for grazing."
To place a seal on (a document).
To tie up animals (especially cattle) in their stalls.
In plain English: To seal something means to close it tightly so nothing can get in or out.
"Please seal the envelope before you mail it."
Usage: Use this verb when physically affixing an official stamp or wax mark to authenticate a document, distinguishing it from the noun form meaning the animal. Ensure you use the past tense "sealed" rather than "sealed up," as the latter is redundant and non-standard in formal contexts.
A surname.
"My friend's last name is Seal, so he introduced himself as Mark Seal at the party."
The word seal comes from Old English seolh and originally referred to the marine mammal. Its ultimate origin is uncertain but likely traces back either to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to pull" or to an early form of Finnish related to the animal's name.