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Meaning of recoil in English
Pronunciation
/rəˈkɔɪl/
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Verb
recoil
Etymology
Middle English (denoting the act of retreating): from Old French reculer‘move back’, based on Latin culus‘buttocks’
Definitions
1.
draw back, as with fear or pain
Examples
« she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf »
2.
spring back
Examples
« spring away from an impact »
« The rubber ball bounced »
« These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide »
3.
spring back, as from a forceful thrust
Examples
« The gun kicked back into my shoulder »
Noun
recoil
Definitions
1.
the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired
2.
a movement back from an impact