heel

[ heel ]

/ hil /

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noun

the back part of the human foot, below and behind the ankle.

an analogous part in other vertebrates.

either hind foot or hoof of some animals, as the horse.

the foot as a whole: He was hung by the heels.

the part of a stocking, shoe, or the like covering the back part of the wearer's foot.

a solid, raised base or support of leather, wood, rubber, etc., attached to the sole of a shoe or boot under the back part of the foot.

heels, women’s low-cut shoes with thin or thick heels of medium or high height.

something resembling the back part of the human foot in position, shape, etc.: a heel of bread.

the rear of the palm, adjacent to the wrist.

the latter or concluding part of anything: the heel of a session.

the lower end of any of various more or less vertical objects, as rafters, spars, or the sternposts of vessels.

Nautical.

the after end of a keel.
the inner end of a bowsprit or jib boom.

the crook in the head of a golf club.

Building Trades. the exterior angle of an angle iron.

Railroads. the end of a frog farthest from a switch.

Horticulture. the base of any part, as of a cutting or tuber, that is removed from a plant for use in the propagation of that plant.

verb (used with object)

to follow at the heels of; chase closely.

to furnish with heels, as shoes.

to perform (a dance) with the heels.

Golf. to strike (the ball) with the heel of the club.

to arm (a gamecock) with spurs.

verb (used without object)

(of a dog) to follow at one's heels on command.

to use the heels, as in dancing.

Verb Phrases

heel in, to cover temporarily (the roots and most of the stem of a plant) with soil prior to permanent planting.

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Idioms about heel

at one's heels, close behind one: The police are at his heels.Also at heel .

cool one's heels, to be kept waiting, especially because of deliberate discourtesy: The producer let the actors who were waiting to be auditioned cool their heels in the outer office.

down at the heels, having a shabby, slipshod, or slovenly appearance.Also down at heel, down at the heel, out at heels, out at the heels .

his heels, Cribbage. a jack turned up as a starter, counting two points for the dealer.

kick up one's heels, to have a vigorously entertaining time; frolic: Grandfather could still kick up his heels now and then.

lay by the heels,

to arrest and imprison.
to prevail over; render ineffectual: Superior forces laid the invaders by the heels.

on / upon the heels of, closely following; in quick succession of: On the heels of the hurricane came an outbreak of looting.

show a clean pair of heels, to leave one's pursuers or competitors behind; outrun: The thief showed his victim a clean pair of heels.Also show one's heels to .

take to one's heels, to run away; take flight: The thief took to his heels as soon as he saw the police.

to heel,

close behind: The dog followed the hunter to heel.
under control or subjugation: The attackers were brought swiftly to heel.

Origin of heel

First recorded before 850; Middle English hele, heil(l)e; Old English hēla, hǽla; cognate with Old Frisian hēla, Dutch hiel, Old Norse hǣll; see hock¹

OTHER WORDS FROM heel

heel·less, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH heel

heal, heel , he'll

Words nearby heel

heebie-jeebies, heed, heedful, heedless, heehaw, heel, heel-and-toe, heel-and-toe racing, heelball, heel bar, heel bone

Other definitions for heel (2 of 3)

heel²

[ heel ]

/ hil /

verb (used without object)

to incline to one side; cant; tilt: The ship heeled in going about.

verb (used with object)

to cause to lean or cant.

noun

a heeling movement; a cant.

Origin of heel

First recorded 1565–75; variant of earlier heeld (the -d was reinterpreted or misinterpreted as a sign of the past tense); Middle English helden, hielden, hælden “to bend, incline”; Old English -hildan, -hieldan, -heldan “to lean, slope, incline”; akin to Old English heald “inclined,” Old Norse hallr “sloping”

Other definitions for heel (3 of 3)

heel³

[ heel ]

/ hil /

noun

a contemptibly dishonorable or irresponsible person: We all feel like heels for ducking out on you like this.

Professional Wrestling. a headlining wrestler who plays a villainous role and typically loses matches to the wrestler playing a heroic character.Compare face (def. 19).

Origin of heel

An Americanism first recorded in 1910–15; perhaps from heel in the extended sense “someone or something in a very low position”; perhaps from down-at-the-heels (applied to an undesirable person constantly at one's heels); perhaps a euphemistic shortening of shit-heel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use heel in a sentence

News of a potential deal comes on the heels of another big SPAC transaction in electric planes, for Archer Aviation.
With a reported deal in the wings for Joby Aviation, electric aircraft soars to $10B business|Jonathan Shieber|February 12, 2021|TechCrunch
On the heels of this latest round, nextmv is working to simplify its product.
nextmv raises $8M Series A to increase accessibility to its automation optimization tech|Jordan Crook|February 9, 2021|TechCrunch
The round comes also on the heels of the company raising $21 million just in June of last year.
RapidSOS raises $85M for a big data platform aimed at emergency responders|Ingrid Lunden|February 9, 2021|TechCrunch
Meanwhile, Marie drifts to the stove like an exquisite zombie—she’s still draped in the slinky liquid column of a dress she wore to the premiere, though she’s kicked off her heels—and starts to cook up some mac and cheese.
Zendaya Dazzles in the Otherwise Dull Malcolm & Marie|Stephanie Zacharek|February 5, 2021|Time

The legislation comes on the heels of other calls for action.
“We Have Counties in Deep Trouble”: Oregon Lawmakers Seek to Reverse Timber Tax Cuts That Cost Communities Billions|by Rob Davis, The Oregonian/OregonLive, and Tony Schick, Oregon Public Broadcasting|February 5, 2021|ProPublica
His goal: to make the perfect (and absolutely comfortable) high-heel, with the help from Nike CEO Mark Parker.
What, and Who, You'll Be Wearing in 2015|Justin Jones|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The high heel has gone through endless aesthetic changes throughout the years.
The Coolest Fashion Innovations of 2014|Raquel Laneri|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Acts of violence include death by hanging, rifle butt, boot heel, tank tracks and fireball.
‘Fury’: A Ludicrous WWII Movie More Violent Than ‘Inglourious Basterds’|Nico Hines|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Around 3am, my spindly legs are beginning to ache from balancing on deck, as we heel with each tack.
Inside Sailing’s Biggest Race|Lizzie Crocker|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The high heel is revolutionary, and evolutionary, as an engrossing Brooklyn Museum show reveals.
Up, Up, Up: The Hottest High Heels in History|Lizzie Crocker|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The left heel followed like lightning, and the right paw also slipped, letting the bear again fall heavily on the ice below.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
And with another bow the man from Paris drew himself erect, turned on his heel, and went jingling and creaking from the room.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
With which magnanimous sentiment he turned on his clumsy heel, and entered his apartment again.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
He believes, he has an instinct, that here is the heel of the German Colossus, otherwise immune to our arrows.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
But her small boot heel did not make an indenture, not a mark upon the little glittering circlet.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin

British Dictionary definitions for heel (1 of 2)

heel¹

/ (hiːl) /

noun

the back part of the human foot from the instep to the lower part of the ankleCompare calcaneus

the corresponding part in other vertebrates

the part of a shoe, stocking, etc, designed to fit the heel

the outer part of a shoe underneath the heel

the part of the palm of a glove nearest the wrist

the lower, end, or back section of somethingthe heel of a loaf

horticulture the small part of the parent plant that remains attached to a young shoot cut for propagation and that ensures more successful rooting

nautical

the bottom of a mast
the after end of a ship's keel

the back part of a golf club head where it bends to join the shaft

rugby possession of the ball as obtained from a scrum (esp in the phrase get the heel)

slang a contemptible person

at one's heels or on one's heels just behind or following closely

dig one's heels in See dig in (def. 5)

down at heel

shabby or worn
slovenly or careless

kick one's heels or cool one's heels to wait or be kept waiting

rock back on one's heels to astonish or be astonished

show a clean pair of heels to run off

take to one's heels to run off

to heel disciplined or under control, as a dog walking by a person's heel

verb

(tr) to repair or replace the heel of (shoes, boots, etc)

to perform (a dance) with the heels

(tr) golf to strike (the ball) with the heel of the club

rugby to kick (the ball) backwards using the sole and heel of the boot

to follow at the heels of (a person)

(tr) to arm (a gamecock) with spurs

(tr) NZ (of a cattle dog) to drive (cattle) by biting their heels

Derived forms of heel

heelless, adjective

Word Origin for heel

Old English hēla; related to Old Norse hǣll, Old Frisian hêl

British Dictionary definitions for heel (2 of 2)

heel²

/ (hiːl) /

verb

(of a vessel) to lean over; list

noun

inclined position from the verticalthe boat is at ten degrees of heel

Word Origin for heel

Old English hieldan; related to Old Norse hallr inclined, Old High German helden to bow

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

Medical definitions for heel

heel

[ hēl ]

The rounded posterior portion of the foot under and behind the ankle.

A similar anatomical part, such as the rounded base of the palm.

Other Idioms and Phrases with heel

heel

see Achilles' heel; at someone's heels; bring to heel; cool one's heels; dig in (one's heels); drag one's feet (heels); head over heels; kick up one's heels; on the heels of; out at the elbows (heels); set back on one's heels; show one's heels; take to one's heels; to heel; turn on one's heel.

heel

Idioms about heel

Origin of heel

OTHER WORDS FROM heel

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH heel

Words nearby heel

Other definitions for heel (2 of 3)

Origin of heel

Other definitions for heel (3 of 3)

Origin of heel

Words related to heel

How to use heel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for heel (1 of 2)

Derived forms of heel

Word Origin for heel

British Dictionary definitions for heel (2 of 2)

Word Origin for heel

Medical definitions for heel

Other Idioms and Phrases with heel