- 1[countable] a sea animal that eats fish and lives around coasts. There are many types of seals, some of which are hunted for their fur a colony of seals harbor seals basking on the rocks The annual seal hunt takes place on the pack ice off Greenland. official mark
- 2[countable] an official design or mark, stamped on a document to show that it is genuine and carries the authority of a particular person or organization The letter bore the president's seal.
- 3[singular] a thing that makes something definite The project has been given the government's seal of approval (= official approval). I looked upon the gift as a seal on our friendship. on containers
- 4[countable] a substance, strip of material, etc. used to fill a crack so that air, liquid, etc. cannot get in or out a jar with a rubber seal in the lid Only drink bottled water and check the seal isn't broken. on letters/boxes
- 5[countable] a piece of wax (= a soft substance produced by bees), soft metal, or paper that is placed across the opening of something such as a letter or box and that has to be broken before the letter or box can be opened He broke the wax seal and unrolled the paper.
- 6a piece of metal, a ring, etc. with a design on it, used for stamping a wax or metal seal Idioms
sea animal
to make something definite or complete Her election to the premiership set the seal on a remarkable political career.
(of a document) in a sealed envelope that cannot be opened before a particular time
Check pronunciation: seal