sailsailsails2nouna big piece of cloth on a boat that catches the wind and moves the boat alongsailsailsailssailedsailing1verb (sails, sailing, sailed)pronunciationThe word sail sounds just like sale.1to travel on water: The ship sailed along the coast.2to control a boat with sails: We sailed the yacht down the river.speakingWhen you talk about spending time sailing a boat, you say go sailing: • We often go sailing on the lake at weekends.▶ sailingsailingsailingsnoun (no plural) the sport of controlling a boat with sails