recoil
To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishmentTo pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment.
» We recoiled from the enemy's offensive.
Meaning
4 senses(intransitive)To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment.
He recoiled in disgust when he saw the mess.
zurückschrecken
отпря́дыватьotprjádyvatʹ, отпря́нутьotprjánutʹ, отша́тыватьсяotšátyvatʹsja
(intransitive)Of a firearm: to quickly push back when fired.
zurückschlagen, einen Rückstoß erzeugen
(archaic, intransitive)To recoil before an opponent.
(intransitive, obsolete)To retire, withdraw.
- spring back, as from a forceful thrust
- come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect
- spring back; spring away from an impact
- draw back, as with fear or pain
Examples
19 sentencesWe recoiled from the enemy's offensive.
He recoiled before his master's anger.
The recoil reduces the weapon's accuracy.
ruОтдача уменьшает точность оружия.
Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.
Ziri recoiled in horror and backed away.
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
Origin
From Old French reculer. Further from Latin re- + cūlus.From Old French reculer. Further from Latin re- + cūlus.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
recoils, recoiling, recoiled, recoiledSynonyms
19 synonyms- spring back, as from a forceful thrust:kick backkick
- come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect:backfirebacklash
- spring back; spring away from an impact:bounceresiletake a hopspringboundreboundreverberatericochet
- draw back, as with fear or pain:flinchsquinchfunkcringeshrinkwincequail
Word family
3 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle