recoil
Americanverb (used without object)
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to draw back; start or shrink back, as in alarm, horror, or disgust.
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to spring or fly back, as in consequence of force of impact or the force of the discharge, as a firearm.
- Synonyms:
- rebound
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to spring or come back; react (usually followed by on orupon ).
Plots frequently recoil upon the plotters.
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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
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an act of recoiling.
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the distance through which a weapon moves backward after discharging.
verb
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to jerk back, as from an impact or violent thrust
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(often foll by from) to draw back in fear, horror, or disgust
to recoil from the sight of blood
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to go wrong, esp so as to hurt the perpetrator
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(of a nucleus, atom, molecule, or elementary particle) to change momentum as a result of the emission of a photon or particle
noun
-
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the backward movement of a gun when fired
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the distance moved
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the motion acquired by a particle as a result of its emission of a photon or other particle
-
the act of recoiling
Related Words
See wince 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of recoil
1175–1225; Middle English recoilen, reculen (v.) < Old French reculer, equivalent to re- re- + -culer, verbal derivative of cul rump, buttocks; see culet
Explanation
A recoil is a movement backwards, usually from some force or impact. The recoil of a gun is a backward movement caused by momentum. Your trip to the shooting range might make your mom recoil — from horror, not momentum. Recoil has both a verb and a noun form, meaning any kind of rebound or spring backwards. It doesn’t even have to be from an actual force. You might recoil when you see a snake, or recoil at the thought of having to eat squid. In those cases it’s more like a cringe or a flinch from something that’s scary, disgusting, or painful. Eating squid might in fact be all of those things to you.
Vocabulary lists containing recoil
The Lingo of Body Language
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List 7
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The Muppet Movie” Recoil in horror as felt puppets come to life and ... oh wait, it’s just the family-friendly 1979 musical comedy featuring Kermit & Co. plus a cavalcade of celebrity cameos.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2021
Ameena Jumail, who joined dozens of other women outside Recoil Firearms in Taylor for the training, said she is working to overcome her fear of guns.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 31, 2021
The fairway woods feature Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Silver TiNi shafts, while the hybrids will sport the UST Mamiya Recoil ES.
From Golf Digest • Mar. 15, 2018
He told Recoil magazine in November that his “everyday carry” includes two pistols, a knife, a tourniquet – and for good measure – a copy of the US constitution.
From The Guardian • Jan. 18, 2018
Recoil of the speculations,—run upon the banks,—seventy banks stop,—a drain of gold exhausts the bullion of the Bank.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 01, No. 04, February, 1858 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
