seal
Translation
seal, stamp, gasket
Examples
The seal played with a ball.
The seal played with a ball.
He broke the wax seal on the letter.
He broke the wax seal on the letter.
Grammar Patterns
((a/the)) seal an animal The seal is a marine mammal.
((a/the)) seal ((on sth.)) a stamp or closure The letter had a wax seal on it.
Similar Words
Synonyms: (animal) sea lion; (stamp) stamp, emblem
Etymology
The animal name comes from Old English 'seolh'. The 'stamp' meaning comes from Latin 'sigillum' (small sign). They have different origins.
Memory Tips
Picture a seal (the animal) putting a royal seal (the stamp) on a letter to remember both meanings.