51Թ

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View synonyms for

recoil

[ri-koil, ree-koil, ri-koil]

verb (used without object)

  1. to draw back; start or shrink back, as in alarm, horror, or disgust.

    Synonyms: , , ,
  2. to spring or fly back, as in consequence of force of impact or the force of the discharge, as a firearm.

    Synonyms:
  3. to spring or come back; react (usually followed by on orupon ).

    Plots frequently recoil upon the plotters.

  4. Physics.(of an atom, a nucleus, or a particle) to undergo a change in momentum as a result either of a collision with an atom, a nucleus, or a particle or of the emission of a particle.



noun

  1. an act of recoiling.

  2. the distance through which a weapon moves backward after discharging.

recoil

verb

  1. to jerk back, as from an impact or violent thrust

  2. (often foll by from) to draw back in fear, horror, or disgust

    to recoil from the sight of blood

  3. to go wrong, esp so as to hurt the perpetrator

  4. (of a nucleus, atom, molecule, or elementary particle) to change momentum as a result of the emission of a photon or particle

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

    1. the backward movement of a gun when fired

    2. the distance moved

  1. the motion acquired by a particle as a result of its emission of a photon or other particle

  2. the act of recoiling

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • recoilingly adverb
  • nonrecoil noun
  • ˈǾ noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of recoil1

1175–1225; Middle English recoilen, reculen (v.) < Old French reculer, equivalent to re- re- + -culer, verbal derivative of cul rump, buttocks; culet
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of recoil1

C13: from Old French reculer , from re- + cul rump, from Latin ūܲ
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Synonym Study

See wince 1.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“He would be sick,” Spencer said, guessing the recoil the nation’s 40th president would have had if he’d witnessed the crass and corrupt behavior of the 45th and 47th one.

From

“Maybe ceramics wasn’t for me,” the little voice in my head said as I recoiled from embarrassment.

From

It let out a deafening sound, and the recoil blew up leaves and dust from the ground.

From

The movie seems to recoil from its own hammering dramatics, with Bryce Dessner’s score toggling uneasily between jocular blues and dour, overcompensating strings.

From

Raducanu, 22, recoiled in horror when she saw a man - who she had already reported for what was described as "exhibiting fixated behaviour" - in the stands of her match in Dubai last month.

From

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