seal // verb, noun

■ verb [+ obj]

SELF-SEAL

1

to close packaging (= material used to wrap or protect goods) so that the contents cannot get out:

Heat is applied to seal the shrink-wrap.

2

to close an envelope by sticking the edges of the opening together:

Make sure you've signed the form before sealing the envelope.

3

to make sth definite and final, so that it cannot be changed or argued about:

They hope to seal the deal with a cash offer of €35 per share.

SIGN verb, SIGN verb

PHRASAL VERBS

seal sth in

to prevent sth that is contained in sth else from escaping:

The food is frozen quickly to seal in the flavour.

■ noun

1 [C]

a substance, strip of material, etc. used to fill a crack so that air, liquid, etc. cannot get in or out:

Make sure the seal is intact before closing the lid, or air will escape.

2 [C]

a piece of paper, metal, etc. that is placed across the opening of sth such as a letter, a box, etc. and which has to be broken before the letter or box can be opened

3 [C]

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 copies of the documents must be stamped with an official seal.

4 [sing.]

a thing that makes sth definite:

The CEO has given the project his seal of approval.

IDIOMS

under seal (Law , formal)

(about a document) that cannot be copied or made available to the public:

The court ordered the documents to be filed under seal.

• careers fair
• careers officer
• career structure
• career woman
• careline
• caretaker
• cargo
• cargo handling
• carmaker
• carnet
• carpet-bomb
• car pool
• carr. fwd.
• carriage
• carriage and freight
• carriage and insurance paid to
• carriage forward
• carriage paid to
• carried forward
• carried over
• carrier
• carrier's risk
• carryback
• carryforward
• carrying charge