1. The ocean (on the sea).
2. A large landlocked part of the ocean; a large body of salt water smaller than a regular ocean (the Mediterranean Sea).
3. The ocean swell (a rough sea).
4. An extremely large or extended quantity (a sea of documents).
free seas. See high seas.
high seas. The seas or oceans beyond the jurisdiction of any country. • Under traditional international law, the high seas began 3 miles from the coast; today, the distance is generally accepted to be 12 miles. Under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal shores now have a 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
— Also termed free seas; open seas; main sea. [Cases: Criminal Law 97(3); International Law 5,
7. C.J.S. Criminal Law § 164; International Law §§ 14–20, 23–24.]
main sea. Archaic. The open ocean; high seas.
navigable sea. See NAVIGABLE SEA.
open seas. See high seas.
territorial sea. See territorial waters under WATER.
