seal
When used as a verb, the word “seal” means to close.
- Alisha sealed the chicken in a freezer bag before putting it in the freezer.
- If you don’t seal the lid, the food in the container might dry out.
- Jim sealed a deal for the purchase of some property downtown. (“seal a deal” / “seal the deal” is very popular when two groups or two people come to a business agreement.)
- Before Betsy was laid to rest in the cemetery, her body was sealed inside a coffin.
Sometimes the word “seal” is used when a surface is protected by a chemical.
- The floor is chemically sealed to protect it from wear and tear.
- The parking lot was sealed last weekend and new stripes were added, so it now looks like new.
As a noun, the word “seal” can be a few different things:
| You lick the seal on an envelope to keep it closed. |  |
|---|---|
| A seal is a type of mammal that lives in the water and on land. |  |
| An official seal on a document shows that a person in a position of authority has reviewed the document or given approval. |  |