Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [heel]
- /hil/
- /hiːl/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [heel]
- /hil/
Definitions of heel word
- noun heel a contemptibly dishonorable or irresponsible person: We all feel like heels for ducking out on you like this. 1
- verb with object heel to cause to lean or cant. 1
- verb without object heel to incline to one side; cant; tilt: The ship heeled in going about. 1
- idioms heel at one's heels, close behind one: The police are at his heels. Also, at heel. 1
- idioms heel cool one's heels, to be kept waiting, especially because of deliberate discourtesy: The producer let the actors who were waiting to be auditioned cool their heels in the outer office. 1
- idioms heel down at the heels, having a shabby, slipshod, or slovenly appearance. Also, down at heel, down at the heel, out at heels, out at the heels. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of heel
First appearance:
before 850 before 850; Middle English; Old English hēl(a); cognate with Dutch hiel, Old Norse hǣll. See hock1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Heel
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
heel popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
heel usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for heel
verb heel
- obey — to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of: to obey one's parents.
- attend — If you attend a meeting or other event, you are present at it.
- repair — to restore to a good or sound condition after decay or damage; mend: to repair a motor.
- resole — to put a new sole on (a shoe, boot, etc.).
- mend — to make (something broken, worn, torn, or otherwise damaged) whole, sound, or usable by repairing: to mend old clothes; to mend a broken toy.
noun heel
- scourings — dirt or refuse removed by scouring.
- back seat — a seat at the back, esp of a vehicle
- villain — a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel.
- nib — his/her nibs, Informal: Often Facetious. a person in authority, especially one who is demanding and tyrannical: His nibs wants fresh strawberries in December.
- end — Come or bring to a final point; finish.
adjective heel
- contemptible — If you feel that someone or something is contemptible, you feel strong dislike and disrespect for them.
- scummy — consisting of or having scum.
- dislikable — Not capable or worthy of being liked; not liked; regarded with displeasure or aversion.
- heeler — a person who heels shoes.
- lowdown — the real and unadorned facts; the true, secret, or inside information (usually preceded by the): We gave them the lowdown on the new housing project.
Top questions with heel
- what is a heel spur?
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