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recoil
[ verb ri-koil; noun ree-koil, ri-koil ]
verb (used without object)
- to draw back; start or shrink back, as in alarm, horror, or disgust.
Synonyms: , , ,
- to spring or fly back, as in consequence of force of impact or the force of the discharge, as a firearm.
Synonyms:
- to spring or come back; react (usually followed by on or upon ):
Plots frequently recoil upon the plotters.
- 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
- an act of recoiling.
- the distance through which a weapon moves backward after discharging.
recoil
verb
- to jerk back, as from an impact or violent thrust
- often foll by from to draw back in fear, horror, or disgust
to recoil from the sight of blood
- foll byon or upon to go wrong, esp so as to hurt the perpetrator
- (of a nucleus, atom, molecule, or elementary particle) to change momentum as a result of the emission of a photon or particle
noun
- the backward movement of a gun when fired
- the distance moved
- the motion acquired by a particle as a result of its emission of a photon or other particle
- the act of recoiling
Derived Forms
- ˈǾ, noun
Other 51Թ Forms
- ·ǾiԲ· adverb
- ԴDz·cǾ noun
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of recoil1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
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.
A visibly upset Raducanu recoiled behind the umpire's chair after spotting a man who she had reported for what WTA officials described as "exhibiting fixated behaviour".
Her father, visibly recoiling, told her she looked like a sack of potatoes.
Meanwhile, leaders of the free world recoil in horror from an America that turned overnight from a beacon of liberty to a mouthpiece for Nazis and the KGB.
As Doug, Hanks recoiled in horror, before tentatively accepting the handshake.
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