Words / A1

SEEL/siːl/

A seal is a sea animal with smooth fur and flippers; it swims well and rests on rocks or ice. Countable: a seal, seals. A sea lion has small ears you can see and is noisier; a whale is much larger and does not come onto rocks like this. Mix-up: seal vs sell (to take money for something) — same sound for some speakers, different spelling; and seal as a sticker that closes a letter.

Meaning

A sea animal with smooth fur that lives on land and in the water.

Examples

• “The seal is lying on the rock.”
• “The seal clapped its flippers.”
• “A baby seal is called a pup.”

Good to know

a seal (fur, flippers, rocks). Contrast: sea lion (ears), whale (larger). Mix-up: sell.

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