recoil
noun/ˈriːkɔɪl/
/ˈriːkɔɪl/
[uncountable, singular]- a sudden movement backwards, especially of a gun when it is fired
- The recoil was so violent it almost tore the weapon from his grasp.
Word OriginMiddle English (denoting the act of retreating): from Old French reculer ‘move back’, based on Latin culus ‘buttocks’.Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
Check pronunciation:
recoil