'To go to sea' definitions:

Definition of 'To go to sea'

From: GCIDE
  • Sea \Sea\ (s[=e]), n. [OE. see, AS. s[=ae]; akin to D. zee, OS. & OHG. s[=e]o, G. see, OFries. se, Dan. s["o], Sw. sj["o], Icel. saer, Goth. saiws, and perhaps to L. saevus fierce, savage. [root]151a.]
  • 1. One of the larger bodies of salt water, less than an ocean, found on the earth's surface; a body of salt water of second rank, generally forming part of, or connecting with, an ocean or a larger sea; as, the Mediterranean Sea; the Sea of Marmora; the North Sea; the Carribean Sea. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. An inland body of water, esp. if large or if salt or brackish; as, the Caspian Sea; the Sea of Aral; sometimes, a small fresh-water lake; as, the Sea of Galilee. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. The ocean; the whole body of the salt water which covers a large part of the globe. [1913 Webster]
  • I marvel how the fishes live in the sea. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Ambiguous between sea and land The river horse and scaly crocodile. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. The swell of the ocean or other body of water in a high wind; motion or agitation of the water's surface; also, a single wave; a billow; as, there was a high sea after the storm; the vessel shipped a sea. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (Jewish Antiq.) A great brazen laver in the temple at Jerusalem; -- so called from its size. [1913 Webster]
  • He made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof. --2 Chron. iv. 2. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. Fig.: Anything resembling the sea in vastness; as, a sea of glory. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • All the space . . . was one sea of heads. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Sea is often used in the composition of words of obvious signification; as, sea-bathed, sea-beaten, sea-bound, sea-bred, sea-circled, sealike, sea-nursed, sea-tossed, sea-walled, sea-worn, and the like. It is also used either adjectively or in combination with substantives; as, sea bird, sea-bird, or seabird, sea acorn, or sea-acorn. [1913 Webster]
  • At sea, upon the ocean; away from land; figuratively, without landmarks for guidance; lost; at the mercy of circumstances. "To say the old man was at sea would be too feeble an expression." --G. W. Cable
  • At full sea at the height of flood tide; hence, at the height. "But now God's mercy was at full sea." --Jer. Taylor.
  • Beyond seas, or Beyond the sea or Beyond the seas (Law), out of the state, territory, realm, or country. --Wharton.
  • Half seas over, half drunk. [Colloq.] --Spectator.
  • Heavy sea, a sea in which the waves run high.
  • Long sea, a sea characterized by the uniform and steady motion of long and extensive waves.
  • Short sea, a sea in which the waves are short, broken, and irregular, so as to produce a tumbling or jerking motion.
  • To go to sea, to adopt the calling or occupation of a sailor. [1913 Webster]