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
Words Nearby recoil
How to use recoil in a sentence
Blanks — which contain gunpowder but not a real bullet — are sometimes used to more effectively mirror the effects of shooting a firearm, such as recoil.
How dangerous are U.S. film sets? ‘Rust’ shooting death sparks calls for change. | Bryan Pietsch, Annabelle Timsit | October 24, 2021 | Washington PostInstead, he developed a new concept based on the energy recoil of tendons and ligaments.
Para-Athletes Use Some of the Most Innovative Gear We’ve Seen | agintzler | September 10, 2021 | Outside OnlineWhen looking for signs of electrons recoiling as other particles slammed into them, the team observed extra recoils of electrons at low energies, well beyond the number predicted by standard physics.
An unexpected result from a dark matter experiment may signal new particles | Emily Conover | June 17, 2020 | Science NewsIn their new analysis, the physicists examined electronic recoils in the first year’s worth of XENON1T data.
Dark Matter Experiment Finds Unexplained Signal | Natalie Wolchover | June 17, 2020 | Quanta MagazineThey used to treat these “electronic recoils” as background noise, and indeed many of these events are caused by mundane sources such as radioactive lead and krypton isotopes.
Dark Matter Experiment Finds Unexplained Signal | Natalie Wolchover | June 17, 2020 | Quanta Magazine
Your foulness no longer surprises you, but you have realized its power when you encounter clean soldiers and you both recoil.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in Iraq | Nathan Bradley Bethea | August 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“Technically, all guns have recoil,” Steve told me via email.
I noticed when watching Biathlon that the guns seem to have no recoil when fired.
Erupting into spontaneous song and having strangers fully embrace it rather than recoil?
The First ‘Glee’ Without Cory Monteith Was Blissfully Joyous | Kevin Fallon | September 27, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThese women do not like being beaten, and I literally recoil whenever I hear others blame them for staying.
Domestic Abuse: The Crime That Crosses Class and Color Lines | Rikki Klieman | February 24, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTDanton began to recoil from the gulf opening before him, and wished to return to alliance with the Girondists.
Madame Roland, Makers of History | John S. C. AbbottA slight tremor passed over the whiteness of her face; he took it for the vibration of some spiritual recoil.
The Creators | May SinclairMay this blood recoil upon those who are really guilty of those crimes.
Catherine de' Medici | Honore de BalzacWhen the enemy approached, one or two volleys caused his column to recoil in confusion.
The recoil staggered him, but he recovered himself without going over, and instantly roared out a horse-laugh.
Overland | John William De Forest
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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