Meaning & use
self-seal
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Describing an envelope, bag, or package that closes by itself using a sticky strip or flap, without glue or tape.
Grammar: Comes before the noun: 'a self-seal envelope'. It is not used after a verb, so say 'This envelope is self-sealing', not 'This envelope is self-seal'.
Patterns
- a self-seal envelope
- self-seal bags
Please return the form in the self-seal envelope provided.
The shop sells self-seal bags for freezing vegetables.
I prefer self-seal packaging because I never have tape at home.
verbtransitive
To close an envelope, bag, or package by pressing its sticky strip or flap, with no glue or tape needed.
Grammar: Takes an object: 'self-seal the envelope'. It is a regular verb, so the past tense is 'self-sealed'.
Patterns
- self-seal an envelope
- self-seal the bag
Just fold the flap over and self-seal the envelope.
She self-sealed the package and dropped it in the mailbox.
Make sure you self-seal the bag properly so the food stays fresh.
Word forms
| third person singular | self-seals |
|---|---|
| past tense | self-sealed |
| past participle | self-sealed |
| -ing form | self-sealing |
Common combinations
- self-seal envelope
- The invitation came in a smart self-seal envelope.
- self-seal bag
- Put the screws in a self-seal bag so they don't get lost.
- self-seal plastic wallet
- Keep your receipts in a self-seal plastic wallet.
- self-seal strip
- Peel off the backing to reveal the self-seal strip.
Synonyms and how they differ
- self-adhesive
- Self-adhesive means something already has a sticky surface, such as a label; self-seal specifically means it closes without extra glue or tape.
- peel-and-seal
- Peel-and-seal is a marketing term for the same idea and is common on food packaging.
Opposites
Word family
- self-sealing adjective
- The -ing form used as an adjective: 'a self-sealing envelope'.
- seal verb
- To close something tightly, often with glue, tape, or heat.
- sealable adjective
- Able to be closed and made airtight.
Commonly confused: self-seal or self-sealing?
self-seal vs self-sealing
Use 'self-seal' before a noun ('a self-seal envelope') and 'self-sealing' after a linking verb ('the envelope is self-sealing').
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'self-seal' correctly.
Choose one answer.
'Self-seal' is an adjective used before a noun, so 'a self-seal envelope' is correct. Option A needs the adjective 'self-sealing' after 'is'; option C needs the past tense 'self-sealed'; option D wrongly treats it as a countable noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “self-seal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.