seals Definition

any of numerous carnivorous marine mammals (families Phocidae and Otariidae) that live chiefly in cold regions and have limbs modified into webbed flippers adapted primarily to swimming; especially : a fur seal or hair seal as opposed to a sea lion

the pelt of a fur seal

leather made from the skin of a seal

to hunt seals

to confirm or make secure by or as if by a seal

to solemnize (something, such as a marriage) for eternity by a Mormon rite

to set or affix an authenticating seal to; also : authenticate, ratify

something that confirms, ratifies, or makes secure : guarantee, assurance

a device with a cut or raised emblem, symbol, or word used especially to certify a signature or authenticate a document

a medallion or ring face bearing such a device incised so that it can be impressed on wax or moist clay; also : a piece of wax or a wafer bearing such an impression

a large arctic hair seal (Erignathus barbatus) with a tuft of long whiskers on each side of the muzzle

an Antarctic hair seal (Lobodon carcinophaga) that feeds on krill and lives and breeds on pack ice —called also crabeater

a cylinder (as of stone) engraved in intaglio and used especially in ancient Mesopotamia to roll an impression on wet clay

any of a family (Otariidae) of seals including the sea lions and fur seals and having independent mobile hind flippers and small well-developed external ears

either of two very large seals (genus Mirounga of the family Phocidae) characterized by a long inflatable proboscis:

one (M. angustirostris) found in Pacific coastal waters from southeastern Alaska to Baja California

one (M. leonina) found in coastal waters of subantarctic islands and Patagonia

any of various eared seals that have a double coat with a dense soft underfur and were hunted especially formerly for their desirable pelts:

a large seal (Callorhinus ursinus) of the northern Pacific Ocean having its main breeding rookery on Pribilof Island in the Bering Sea —called also northern fur seal

any of a genus (Arctocephalus) of seals chiefly of the southern hemisphere —called also southern fur seal