Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   Re·coil

   verb

   • 1. suddenly spring or flinch back in fear, horror, or disgust: "he recoiled in horror" Similar draw backjump backspring backjerk backpull backflinchshy awayshrink (back)blenchstartwincecowerquail
   • ▪ feel fear, horror, or disgust at the thought or prospect of something; shrink mentally: "Renee felt herself recoil at the very thought" Similar feel revulsion atfeel disgust atfeel abhorrence atbe unable to bearbe unable to stomachshrink fromshy away frombalk athesitate at
   • ▪ (of a gun) move abruptly backward as a reaction on firing a bullet, shell, or other missile. Similar kick (back)jerk backspring backfly backjump back
   • ▪ rebound or spring back through force of impact or elasticity: "the muscle has the ability to recoil"
   • ▪ (of an action) have an adverse reactive effect on (the originator): "the soothsayers agreed that all the dangers would recoil on the heads of those who were in possession of the entrails" Similar rebound oncome back onaffect badlymisfirebackfireboomeranggo wrongfail to work outbe unsuccessfulgo amisscome to griefmeet with disasterarchaic:redound on

   noun

   • 1. the action of recoiling: "his body jerked with the recoil of the rifle"

   Word Origin Middle English (denoting the act of retreating): from Old French reculer ‘move back’, based on Latin culus ‘buttocks’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. recoilless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

   Powered by Oxford Languages

   More Definitions, Word Origin & ScrabbleShow less