recoil
to draw back; start or shrink back, as in alarm, horror, or disgust.
to spring or fly back, as in consequence of force of impact or the force of the discharge, as a firearm.
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.
an act of recoiling.
the distance through which a weapon moves backward after discharging.
Origin of recoil
1synonym study For recoil
Other words for recoil
Other words from recoil
- re·coil·ing·ly, adverb
- non·re·coil, noun
Words that may be confused with recoil
- re-coil, recoil
British Dictionary definitions for recoil
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 by on 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
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
Origin of recoil
1Derived forms of recoil
- recoiler, noun
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
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