recoil

Plural: recoils

Noun

• the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired
• a movement back from an impact
• A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.
• The state or condition of having recoiled.
• The energy transmitted back to the shooter from a firearm which has fired. Recoil is a function of the weight of the weapon, the weight of the projectile, and the speed at which it leaves the muzzle.
• An escapement in which, after each beat, the scape-wheel recoils slightly.

Verb

Verb Forms: recoiled, recoiling, recoils

• To spring or shrink back in fear or disgust.
• draw back, as with fear or pain
• come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect
• spring back; spring away from an impact
• spring back, as from a forceful thrust
• To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment.
• To retreat before an opponent.
• Of a firearm: to quickly push back when fired.
• To retire, withdraw.

Examples

• He recoiled in disgust when he saw the mess.
• He watched his opponent’s high-scoring word, then recoiled at the lost opportunity.
• the recoil of nature, or of the blood

Synonyms

backfire, backlash, bounce, bound, cringe, flinch, funk, kick, kick back, quail, rebound, repercussion, resile, reverberate, ricochet, shrink, spring, squinch, take a hop, wince

Anagrams of recoil