Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - sail

~1 v 1 I always +adv/prep) to travel across an area of water in a boat or ship  (the first Europeans to sail across the Atlantic | Three tall ships sailed past.) 2 to direct or control the movement of a boat or ship  (The captain sailed his ship safely through the narrow passage. | My father taught me to sail when I was 14.) 3 to start a journey by boat or ship  (We sail at dawn.) + for  (They're sailing for Antigua next week.) 4 I always +adv/prep) to move quickly and smoothly through the air  (At that moment a ball came sailing over the fence and landed in my lap.) 5 I always +adv/prep) to move forwards gracefully and confidently  (Penelope sailed into the room, her dress billowing behind her.) 6 sail close to the wind to do or say something that is nearly wrong, illegal, or dishonest  (You're sailing a bit close to the wind with that remark.)  (- see also sail/fly under false colours false (10)) sail through phr v to succeed very easily in a test, examination etc ~2 n 1 a large piece of strong cloth fixed onto a boat, so that the wind will push the boat along  (a yacht with white sails | hoist/lower the sails (=put the sails up or down)) 2 set sail to begin a journey by boat or ship  (The following week the `Queen Elizabeth' set sail for Jamaica.) 3 under sail literary moving along on a ship or boat that has sails