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keel1

Syllabification: (keel)
Pronunciation: /kēl/
Translate keel | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of keel

noun

  • the longitudinal structure along the centerline at the bottom of a vessel’s hull, on which the rest of the hull is built, in some vessels extended downward as a blade or ridge to increase stability.
  • Zoology a ridge along the breastbone of many birds to which the flight muscles are attached; the carina.
  • Botany a prow-shaped pair of petals present in flowers of the pea family.
  • literary a ship.

verb

[no object] (keel over)
  • (of a boat or ship) turn over on its side; capsize.
  • informal (of a person or thing) fall over; collapse.

Derivatives

keeled

adjective
[in combination]:a deep-keeled yacht

keelless

adjective

Origin:

Middle English: from Old Norse kjǫlr, of Germanic origin

keel in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of keel in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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