sea

sea [ si ] noun MAINLY BRITISH ***

singular or uncount the large area of salt water that covers most of the surface of the Earth:

Tim went swimming in the sea.

He had a room overlooking the sea.

We're renting a house by the sea (=close to the sea).

into the sea: I ran across the beach and into the sea.

at sea (=in a boat or ship on the sea): Some older tankers need maintenance while at sea.

by sea (=in a ship across the sea): Most of his belongings will be transported by sea.

out to sea (=out onto the sea): She rowed the boat out to sea.

lost at sea (=died in the sea): A service was held to commemorate those lost at sea.

put to sea (=start a journey in a ship): The cruiser put to sea yesterday from the port of Murmansk.

the open sea (=a part of the sea far from land): The yacht was on the open sea in light winds.

a. count usually plural the condition of the sea, especially the way it is affected by the weather:

The sea was very choppy (=with many small waves).

calm/rough/choppy/stormy seas: A fishing boat is missing in rough seas off the Shetlands.

b. Sea singular used as part of the name of a sea:

the North Sea

the Irish Sea

c. count a large area of salt water:

The dam will create an enormous inland sea.

d. the seas LITERARY the sea in general:

the peace and freedom of the seas

all at sea

confused and not certain what to do

the high seas MAINLY LITERARY

oceans or seas that are not controlled by any country:

We're reading an adventure story about piracy on the high seas.

a sea of something

a large amount of something:

She looked out over a sea of smiling faces.

The crowd stood under a sea of brightly colored umbrellas.