sea
gb/sˈi/ us/sˈi/
A1
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Large saltwater body
A very big area of salt water, bigger than a lake, like the ocean.
Usage pattern:
the [adjective] sea
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'sea' with 'lake'; a sea is made of salt water and is often connected to an ocean, while a lake is fresh water and inland.
Synonyms
ocean (Usually refers to one of the Earth's largest continuous bodies of salt water; 'sea' can be smaller or part of an ocean.)
Antonyms
land (The solid surface of the Earth, as opposed to bodies of water like the sea.)
Collocations
open sea
|stormy sea
|at sea
|sea level
|sea water
Themes
geography
|nature
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We spent the summer sailing across the Mediterranean Sea.
- The sea was calm and blue under the morning sun.
- Pollution is harming many creatures in the sea.
- From the cliff, you can see the endless sea.
- Fishermen depend on the sea for their livelihood.
Learner examples
- The sea is very big.
- I like to swim in the sea.
- The boat is on the sea.
- The sea is blue today.
- We go to the sea in summer.
Noun
B1
quantity
2
Large quantity or mass
A very big number or amount of something, like a crowd or things all together.
Usage pattern:
a sea of [things/people]
Common mistake:
Learners may take this meaning literally and think it refers to water; here it describes a large amount of something else.
Synonyms
ocean (Used metaphorically in the same way; 'ocean' can suggest even greater scale.)
Antonyms
handful (A very small number or amount compared to a 'sea'.)
Collocations
sea of faces
|sea of lights
|sea of people
Themes
descriptions
|metaphor
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She looked out at a sea of cheering fans.
- The city square was a sea of umbrellas in the rain.
- We were lost in a sea of paperwork.
Learner examples
- I saw a sea of people at the concert.
- There was a sea of red flowers in the garden.
- The shop had a sea of toys.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sea
IPA
GB/sˈi/
US/sˈi/
Syllables & stress
sea (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (sea)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sea
- Plural: sea, seas
Word family
Expressions
a sea change
1/ə sˈi t͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ/
idiom
Major transformation
A big and important change in something.
Examples
- There has been a sea change in public opinion about climate change.
- Her attitude underwent a sea change after she traveled abroad.
at sea
1/ˈæt sˈi/
idiom
Confused or on a ship
On a ship at sea, or feeling very confused and not knowing what to do.
Examples
- We were at sea for three weeks before reaching land.
- I'm completely at sea with these new instructions.
lost at sea
1/lˈɔst ˈæt sˈi/
fixed phrase
Missing at sea or confused
Not found after being at sea, or feeling very confused and without an idea what to do.
Examples
- Several sailors were lost at sea during the storm.
- When it comes to taxes, I'm lost at sea.
sea level
1/sˈi lˈɛvəl/
fixed phrase
technical
Average ocean height for measurement
The average height of the surface of the ocean, used to measure how high land or mountains are.
Examples
- The city is 500 meters above sea level.
- Sea level has been rising due to climate change.