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REFERENCE

sailing

n. · adj.
US //ˈseɪɫɪŋ// UK //sˈeɪlɪŋ// sail·ing
  1. 1 sport or activity (n.)
    A2 Elementary Sport

    the sport or hobby of moving across water in a boat that uses the wind.

    the activity or sport of navigating a vessel powered by wind acting on sails.

    Example

    We went sailing on the lake every weekend during the summer.

    Example

    The coastal town attracts thousands of tourists each year who are interested in competitive sailing and maritime history.
  2. 2 scheduled trip (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a planned journey by a ship or ferry at a specific time.

    a scheduled departure or voyage of a commercial vessel, such as a ferry or cruise ship.

    Example

    The next sailing to the island is at two o'clock this afternoon.

    Example

    Due to the approaching storm, the ferry company decided to cancel all evening sailings until further notice.
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  1. 3 navigation skill (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    the skill and knowledge needed to control a boat.

    the art or science of navigating and managing a vessel at sea.

    Example

    He spent years studying sailing before he attempted to cross the ocean alone.

    Example

    Mastering the intricacies of traditional sailing requires a deep understanding of both meteorological patterns and celestial navigation.
  2. 4 moving by sail (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    describing a boat or ship that uses sails to move.

    relating to or powered by sails; often used to distinguish wind-powered vessels from motorised ones.

    Example

    The harbour was full of beautiful sailing ships from all over the world.

    Example

    The museum features a restored sailing vessel that was used for merchant trade in the late nineteenth century.
    • wind powered
Etymology 1

From Middle English saylinge, seilinge, variants of sailende, seilende; equivalent to sail + -ing. Cognate with Dutch zeilend (“sailing”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English seyling, sayling, from Old English seġling, seġlung (“sailing”), from Proto-West Germanic siglingu, seglungu, from Proto-Germanic *siglingō (“sailing”); equivalent to sail + -ing. Cognate with Middle Low German sēgelinge (“sailing”), Swedish segling (“sailing”), Icelandic sigling (“sailing”).

Idioms1 entry

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