Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Sea?

\Sea\, n. [OE. see, AS. s[=ae]; akin to D. zee, OS. & OHG. s[=e]o, G. see, OFries. se, Dan. s["o], Sw. sj["o], Icel. s[ae]r, Goth. saiws, and perhaps to L. saevus firce, savage. [root] 151 a.] 1. One of the larger bodies of salt water, less than an ocean, found on the earth's surface; a body of salt water of second rank, generally forming part of, or connecting with, an ocean or a larger sea; as, the Mediterranean Sea; the Sea of Marmora; the North Sea; the Carribean Sea. 2. An inland body of water, esp. if large or if salt or brackish; as, the Caspian Sea; the Sea of Aral; sometimes, a small fresh-water lake; as, the Sea of Galilee. 3. The ocean; the whole body of the salt water which covers a large part of the globe. I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. --Shak. Ambiguous between sea and land The river horse and scaly crocodile. --Milton. 4. The swell of the ocean or other body of water in a high wind; motion of the water's surface; also, a single wave; a billow; as, there was a high sea after the storm; the vessel shipped a sea. 5. (Jewish Antiq.) A great brazen laver in the temple at Jerusalem; -- so called from its size. He made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof. --2 Chron. iv. 2. 6. Fig.: Anything resembling the sea in vastness; as, a sea of glory. --Shak. All the space . . . was one sea of heads. --Macaulay. Note: Sea is often used in the composition of words of obvious signification; as, sea-bathed, sea-beaten, sea-bound, sea-bred, sea-circled, sealike, sea-nursed, sea-tossed, sea-walled, sea-worn, and the like. It is also used either adjectively or in combination with substantives; as, sea bird, sea-bird, or seabird, sea acorn, or sea-acorn. {At sea}, upon the ocean; away from land; figuratively, without landmarks for guidance; lost; at the mercy of circumstances. ``To say the old man was at sea would be too feeble an expression.'' --G. W. Cable {At full sea} at the height of flood tide; hence, at the height. ``But now God's mercy was at full sea.'' --Jer. Taylor. {Beyond seas}, or {Beyond the sea} or {the seas} (Law), out of the state, territory, realm, or country. --Wharton. {Half seas over}, half drunk. [Colloq.] --Spectator. {Heavy sea}, a sea in which the waves run high. {Long sea}, a sea characterized by the uniform and steady motion of long and extensive waves. {Short sea}, a sea in which the waves are short, broken, and irregular, so as to produce a tumbling or jerking motion. {To go to sea}, a adopt the calling or occupation of a sailor.