WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
re-coil
(rē koil′),USA pronunciation v.t., v.i.
re•coil (v. ri koil′;n. rē′koil′, ri koil′),USA pronunciation v.i.
n.
re•coil′ing•ly, adv.
- to coil again.
- re- + coil1 1860–65
re•coil (v. ri koil′;n. rē′koil′, ri koil′),USA pronunciation v.i.
- to draw back;
start or shrink back, as in alarm, horror, or disgust. - to spring or fly back, as in consequence of force of impact or the force of the discharge, as a firearm.
- to spring or come back;
react (usually fol. by on or upon):Plots frequently recoil upon the plotters. - Physics(of an atom, a nucleus, or a particle) to undergo a change in momentum as a result either of a collision with an atom, a nucleus, or a particle or of the emission of a particle.
n.
- an act of recoiling.
- the distance through which a weapon moves backward after discharging.
- Old French reculer, equivalent. to re- re- + -culer, verb, verbal derivative of cul rump, buttocks; see culet
- Middle English recoilen, reculen (verb, verbal) 1175–1225
- 1. withdraw, quail, flinch, falter. See wince. 2. rebound.
're-coil' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):