Recoil



GRE 蓝宝 TOEFL

解释

GRE 红宝书

• v. 退却, 退缩
• ［英］ v. 退却, 退缩 ( to shrink back physically or emotionally; wince; quail)
• ［记］ re ( 重新) +coil ( 卷, 盘绕) -> 卷回去 -> 退缩
• ［例］ She recoiled at the sight of the snake.

Webster Collegiate

I. intransitive verb

• Etymology: Middle English reculen, recoilen, from Anglo-French reculer, recuiler, from re- + cul backside — more at culet
• Date: 14th century
• 1.
  • a. to fall back under pressure
  • b. to shrink back physically or emotionally
• 2. to spring back to or as if to a starting point ; rebound
• 3. obsolete degenerate
• Synonyms:
  • recoil, shrink, flinch, wince, blench, quail mean to draw back in fear or distaste. recoil implies a start or movement away through shock, fear, or disgust <recoiled at the suggestion of stealing>. shrink suggests an instinctive recoil through sensitiveness, scrupulousness, or cowardice<shrank from the unpleasant truth>. flinch implies a failure to endure pain or face something dangerous or frightening with resolution<faced her accusers without flinching>. wince suggests a slight involuntary physical reaction (as a start or recoiling)<winced in pain>. blench implies fainthearted flinching<stood their ground without blenching>. quail suggests shrinking and cowering in fear<quailed before the apparition>.

II. noun

• Date: 14th century
• 1. the act or action of recoiling; especially the kickback of a gun upon firing
• 2. reaction <the recoil from the rigors of Calvinism — Edmund Wilson>

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