Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Sea \Sea\ (s[=e]), 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. saer, Goth. saiws, and perhaps to L. saevus fierce,
savage. [root]151a.]
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.
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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.
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3. The ocean; the whole body of the salt water which covers a
large part of the globe.
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I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. --Shak.
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Ambiguous between sea and land
The river horse and scaly crocodile. --Milton.
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4. The swell of the ocean or other body of water in a high
wind; motion or agitation 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.
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5. (Jewish Antiq.) A great brazen laver in the temple at
Jerusalem; -- so called from its size.
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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.
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6. Fig.: Anything resembling the sea in vastness; as, a sea
of glory. --Shak.
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All the space . . . was one sea of heads.
--Macaulay.
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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.
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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 Beyond 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, to adopt the calling or occupation of a
sailor.
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