heel
1the 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.
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.
(of a dog) to follow at one's heels on command.
to use the heels, as in dancing.
heel in, to cover temporarily (the roots and most of the stem of a plant) with soil prior to permanent planting.
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
1Other words from heel
- heel·less, adjective
Words that may be confused with heel
Other definitions for heel (2 of 3)
to cause to lean or cant.
a heeling movement; a cant.
Origin of heel
2Other definitions for heel (3 of 3)
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
3Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use heel in a sentence
A calf raise involves lifting your heels off the ground, and isn’t a bad thing for a passenger to do on a long flight, either.
The world’s longest commercial flights, by the numbers | Rob Verger | November 20, 2020 | Popular-ScienceOver the summer, I began having terrible foot pain in the back of my heel.
The pandemic isn’t ending anytime soon. And our bodies are feeling the stress. | Petula Dvorak | November 19, 2020 | Washington PostOne fractured his heel when a forklift he was pulling slid over his foot at a meatpacking plant.
Inside the Lives of Immigrant Teens Working Dangerous Night Shifts in Suburban Factories | by Melissa Sanchez | November 19, 2020 | ProPublicaRoy falls head over heels for his sister-in-law, and she for him, and their trysts are both wild and fraught.
Jo Nesbo’s ‘The Kingdom’ is a suspenseful bundle of Norwegian noir that’s almost impossible to put down | Richard Lipez | November 9, 2020 | Washington PostBiomechanical testing of ten of the runners who were examined in Exeter found that six were forefoot strikers and four were heel strikers, and the most efficient runners had the shortest ground contact time with each step.
We Now Have the Lab Data on Nike’s Breaking2 Runners | Alex Hutchinson | November 6, 2020 | Outside Online
Again the yacht swung out into the river, gathering headway quickly and skimming along, heeling very gently.
The Rival Campers Afloat | Ruel Perley SmithAll at once it snapped; the tiller swung useless and the boat whirled around, heeling in the stiffening wind, and drove shoreward.
In Search of the Unknown | Robert W. ChambersSo off we go heeling well to the breeze as our funny, high-slung lateen sail drives us shoreward at a great rate.
Gardens of the Caribbees, v. 1/2 | Ida May Hill StarrThe ship was heeling over till her lee bulwarks were smothered in the fast-rising sea.
The Missing Ship | W. H. G. Kingston"I was so mad I didn't stop to smell weather," admitted the master, bracing himself to meet a fresh list of the heeling Polly.
Blow The Man Down | Holman Day
British Dictionary definitions for heel (1 of 2)
/ (hiːl) /
the back part of the human foot from the instep to the lower part of the ankle: Compare 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 something: the 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
(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
Origin of heel
1Derived forms of heel
- heelless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for heel (2 of 2)
/ (hiːl) /
(of a vessel) to lean over; list
inclined position from the vertical: the boat is at ten degrees of heel
Origin of heel
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with 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.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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