'Recoil' definitions:
Definition of 'recoil'
(from WordNet)
noun
The backward jerk of a gun when it is fired [syn: recoil, kick]
noun
verb
Draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf" [syn: flinch, squinch, funk, cringe, shrink, wince, recoil, quail]
verb
Come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect; "Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble" [syn: backfire, backlash, recoil]
verb
Spring back; spring away from an impact; "The rubber ball bounced"; "These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide" [syn: bounce, resile, take a hop, spring, bound, rebound, recoil, reverberate, ricochet]
verb
Definition of 'Recoil'
From: GCIDE
- Recoil \Re*coil"\ (r[-e]*koil"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Recoiled (r[-e]*koild"); p. pr. & vb. n. Recoiling.] [OE. recoilen, F. reculer, fr. L. pref. re- re- + culus the fundament. The English word was perhaps influenced in form by accoil.] [1913 Webster]
- 1. To start, roll, bound, spring, or fall back; to take a reverse motion; to be driven or forced backward; to return. [1913 Webster]
- Evil on itself shall back recoil. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- The solemnity of her demeanor made it impossible . . . that we should recoil into our ordinary spirits. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To draw back, as from anything repugnant, distressing, alarming, or the like; to shrink. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To turn or go back; to withdraw one's self; to retire. [Obs.] "To your bowers recoil." --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Recoil'
From: GCIDE
- Recoil \Re*coil"\ (r[-e]*koil"), v. t. To draw or go back. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Recoil'
From: GCIDE
- Recoil \Re*coil"\, n.
- 1. A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking; as, the recoil of nature, or of the blood. [1913 Webster]
- 2. The state or condition of having recoiled. [1913 Webster]
- The recoil from formalism is skepticism. --F. W. Robertson. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Specifically, the reaction or rebounding of a firearm when discharged. [1913 Webster]
- Recoil dynamometer (Gunnery), an instrument for measuring the force of the recoil of a firearm.
- Recoil escapement. See the Note under Escapement. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'recoil'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- about the bush,
- antagonism,
- antipathy,
- avoid,
- avoidance,
- backfire,
- backlash,
- backlashing,
- backwash,
- balk,
- bashfulness,
- beat around,
- beg the question,
- blanch,
- blench,
- blink,
- boggle,
- boggling,
- boomerang,
- bounce,
- bounce back,
- bound,
- bound back,
- cannon,
- cannon off,
- carom,
- clashing,
- clout,
- collision,
- comeback,
- compunction,
- conflict,
- confutation,
- contradiction,
- contraposition,
- contrariety,
- contrecoup,
- counter,
- counteraction,
- counterblast,
- counterblow,
- counterposition,
- counterstroke,
- counterworking,
- crankiness,
- cringe,
- crotchetiness,
- demur,
- demurral,
- diffidence,
- disapprove of,
- dissent,
- dodge,
- draw back,
- duck,
- equivocate,
- evade,
- evasion,
- exchange,
- fade,
- fall back,
- fallback,
- falter,
- faltering,
- fence,
- fight shy of,
- flinch,
- fly back,
- force,
- friction,
- funk,
- give-and-take,
- grimace,
- hang back,
- hang off,
- have qualms,
- have repercussions,
- hedge,
- hem and haw,
- hesitance,
- hesitancy,
- hesitate,
- hesitation,
- hold off,
- impact,
- impress,
- impression,
- imprint,
- interchange,
- interference,
- jib,
- kick,
- kick back,
- kickback,
- lash back,
- look askance at,
- make bones about,
- mark,
- modesty,
- nonconformity,
- objection,
- opposition,
- opposure,
- oppugnance,
- oppugnancy,
- parry,
- pause,
- perverseness,
- print,
- protest,
- pull away,
- pull back,
- pullback,
- pullout,
- pussyfoot,
- put off,
- quail,
- quake,
- qualm,
- qualm of conscience,
- qualmishness,
- reaction,
- rebound,
- rebuff,
- recalcitrance,
- recalcitrate,
- recalcitration,
- reciprocation,
- reel back,
- reflex,
- renitency,
- repercuss,
- repercussion,
- reply,
- repugnance,
- repulse,
- resile,
- resilience,
- resistance,
- response,
- retaliation,
- retort,
- retreat,
- return,
- revolt,
- revolt at,
- ricochet,
- scruple,
- scrupulosity,
- scrupulousness,
- shake,
- sheer off,
- shift,
- shift off,
- show distaste for,
- shrink,
- shrink back,
- shrink from,
- shrinking,
- shudder,
- shudder at,
- shy,
- shy at,
- shy away,
- shy off,
- shyness,
- sidestep,
- sidestepping,
- snap back,
- spring,
- spring back,
- squinch,
- start,
- start aside,
- start back,
- step aside,
- stick,
- stick at,
- stickle,
- stickling,
- strain,
- swerve,
- swimming upstream,
- tremble,
- turn aside,
- ward off,
- waver,
- weasel,
- weasel out,
- wince