From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsealseal1 /siːl/ ●●○ S3 noun [countable] 1 
HBAa large sea animal that eats fish and lives around coasts2 SIGN/SYMBOL a) a mark that has a special design and shows the legal or official authority of a person or organization The document carried the seal of the governor’s office. b) the object that is used to make this mark3 a piece of rubber or plastic that keeps air, water, dirt etc out of somethingairtight/watertight seal an airtight seal around the windows4 a piece of wax, paper, wire etc that you have to break in order to open a container, document etc5 → seal of approval6 → set the seal on something
HBAa large sea animal that eats fish and lives around coasts2 SIGN/SYMBOL a) a mark that has a special design and shows the legal or official authority of a person or organization The document carried the seal of the governor’s office. b) the object that is used to make this mark3 a piece of rubber or plastic that keeps air, water, dirt etc out of somethingairtight/watertight seal an airtight seal around the windows4 a piece of wax, paper, wire etc that you have to break in order to open a container, document etc5 → seal of approval6 → set the seal on somethingExamples from the Corpus
seal• This is the reason you will notice jar lids advertising airtight seals and warning against consumption when the seal is broken.• an airtight seal• We will be protecting and reinforcing the existing sewer with an additional concrete seal around it.• stationery decorated with the Texas state seal• To the old farm for lunch, but what about the seals?• Most of the seals were nevertheless made of bone, ivory, steatite, banded agate, or orange carnelian.• The Tories' overwhelming victory in 1987 appeared to set the seal upon the triumph of bourgeois capitalism.• Check that the seal on the medicine has not been broken.airtight/watertight seal• These gaiters cover the whole boot and have a rubber rand which gives a watertight seal.• This is the reason you will notice jar lids advertising airtight seals and warning against consumption when the seal is broken.• By this method an airtight seal was made.sealseal2 ●●○ verb [transitive] 1 (also seal up)SHUT/CLOSE to close an entrance or a container with something that stops air, water etc from coming in or out of it The window was sealed shut.seal a joint/crack/opening/gap A quick way to seal awkward gaps is to use a foam filler. Dried milk is kept in hermetically sealed (=very tightly closed) containers.► see thesaurus at close2 if a building, area, or country is sealed, no one can enter or leave it Authorities plan to seal the border.3 SHUT/CLOSEto close an envelope, package etc by using something sticky to hold its edges in place He wrote the address and sealed the envelope.4 to cover the surface of something with something that will protect it Wooden decks should be sealed to prevent cracking.5 → seal somebody’s fate6 → seal a deal/bargain/pact etc7 → seal a victory/win/match → somebody’s lips are sealed at lip(5), → all signed and sealed at sign2(6) → seal something ↔ in → seal something ↔ off→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
seal• In this experiment, the chamber must be completely sealed.• By the time they did, it would be years too late, and their fate would be sealed.• The fix is to seal all seams in your ducts in the basement with duct tape.• The Texas Supreme Court will consider a case next month that could seal another entire realm of information: district attorney files.• Newman watched him stuffing banknotes into the envelope, sealing it, writing on the front.• And tonight they would seal that love together.• Folly cut the tape that sealed the box nearest to her and pulled off the lid.• She sealed the box with clear tape.• If you seal the jars well, the jam will keep for months or even years.• Each is a hermetically sealed universe, bumping off the others with very little cross-pollination.• The doorway had been sealed up with bricks.• Bricks should be sealed with a masonry stabiliser, while wood should be waxed, varnished or painted.seal a joint/crack/opening/gap• Push-fit or ring seal joints are simple to make.From Longman Business Dictionarysealseal1 /siːl/ noun [countable] a mark that has a special design and shows the legal or official authority of a person or organizationthe Presidential seal → common seal → company sealsealseal2 verb seal a deal/agreement/promise etcCOMMERCE to do something that makes a deal, agreement etc formal and definiteA handshake sealed the deal.→ See Verb tableOrigin seal1 1. Old English seolh2. (1100-1200) Old French seel, from Latin sigillum, from signum; → SIGN1 