careen

American  

[kuh-reen] / kəˈrin /

verb (used without object)

1. (of a vehicle) to lean, sway, or tip to one side while in motion.

   The car careened around the corner.

2. (of a ship) to heel over or list.

3. career.

4. South Midland U.S. to lean or bend away from the vertical position.

   The barn was careening a little.

---

verb (used with object)

Nautical.

1. to cause (a ship) to lie over on a side, as for repairs or cleaning; heave down.

2. to clean or repair (a ship lying on its side for the purpose).

3. to cause (a ship) to heel over or list, as by the force of a beam wind.

noun

1. a careening.

2. Nautical. the position of a careened ship.

careen British  

/ kəˈriːn /

verb

1. to sway or cause to sway dangerously over to one side

2. (tr) nautical to cause (a vessel) to keel over to one side, esp in order to clean or repair its bottom

3. (intr) nautical (of a vessel) to keel over to one side

---

Other Word Forms

• careenage noun
• careener noun

Etymology

Origin of careen

1585–95 careen for def. 9; < Middle French carine < Latin carīna keel, nutshell; akin to Greek káryon nut

Example Sentences

But it must be a trick of the light, because as I careen across the gravel, I see the tip of the Sandy June’s sign.

From Literature

The disrupted lanterns careened into an avalanche of chaos, until every lamp was swinging and colliding and clanging.

From Literature

Today I careened onto the sidewalk and burst through the door with never a knock.

From Literature

How much can one film really change a world that seems like it’s careening faster and faster toward annihilation?

From Salon

With missiles flying and markets careening, it’s worth remembering what’s really important.

From Barron's

Related Words

• lurch