to seal
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to seal
To officially close something with a seal or lead seal in order to guarantee that it has not been tampered with or to secure the contents.
Der Notar hat das Testament in einem Umschlag versiegelt.
The notary sealed the will in an envelope.
to seal
To coat a surface with a protective, often waterproof layer in order to make it more resistant.
Nach dem Abschleifen müssen wir den Holzboden neu versiegeln.
After sanding, we have to reseal the wooden floor.
to seal off
To officially close off a place, such as an apartment or a crime scene, by order of an authority (e.g., the police), so that no one may enter it.
Die Polizei hat die Wohnung des Verdächtigen nach der Durchsuchung versiegelt.
The police sealed off the suspect's apartment after the search.
The verb 'versiegeln' (to seal) has the prefix 'ver-' and is inseparable. This means the prefix stays firmly attached to the verb in all sentence forms and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
Der Handwerker versiegelt heute den neuen Parkettboden.
The tradesman is sealing the new parquet floor today.
The verb 'versiegeln' (to seal) is derived from the noun 'das Siegel' (seal). The prefix 'ver-' here describes the action of putting a seal on something or applying a protective layer.
Mit Wachs und einem Stempel kann man ein Dokument traditionell versiegeln.
With wax and a stamp, you can traditionally seal a document.
You can recognize the exact meaning of 'versiegeln' (to seal) from the object: a document is officially closed, a surface is protected, and a place such as a crime scene is sealed off by the police.
Der Ermittler versiegelte die Tür zum Labor.
The investigator sealed the door to the laboratory.
In a crafts or construction context, 'versiegeln' (to seal) is often combined with surfaces that need protection. Typical phrases are: 'Parkett versiegeln' (to seal parquet flooring), 'einen Holztisch versiegeln' (to seal a wooden table), or 'eine Arbeitsplatte versiegeln' (to seal a countertop).
Lassen Sie uns die Holzterrasse versiegeln, damit sie wetterfest ist.
Let's seal the wooden terrace so that it is weatherproof.
In this meaning, the word is used almost exclusively in connection with the police, customs, or other authorities. It always refers to an official closure.
Nach dem Brand hat die Feuerwehr das Gebäude versiegelt.
After the fire, the fire department sealed off the building.
to block / to ban
Sperren generally means blocking access to an apartment. Versiegeln is used when an authority officially seals off the place, so no one may enter. An apartment can therefore be blocked off because of a danger, but sealed off to protect evidence.
Zur Sicherung von Spuren versiegelt die Polizei die Wohnung.
The police are sealing off the apartment to protect evidence.
Wegen Einsturzgefahr wird der Zugang zur Wohnung gesperrt.
The apartment's entrance is being blocked off because it is at risk of collapse.
