Heel

English Meaning

To lean or tip to one side, as a ship; as, the ship heels aport; the boat heeled over when the squall struck it.

1. The rounded posterior portion of the human foot under and behind the ankle.
2. The corresponding part of the hind foot of other vertebrates.
3. A similar anatomical part, such as the fleshy rounded base of the human palm or the hind toe of a bird.
4. The part, as of a sock, shoe, or stocking, that covers the rounded posterior portion of the human foot.
5. The built-up portion of a shoe or boot, supporting the heel.
6. One of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread.
7. The lower or rearward part, as:
8. The part of the head of a golf club where it joins the shaft.
9. The end of a violin bow where the handle is located.
10. Nautical The lower end of a mast.
11. Nautical The after end of a ship's keel.
12. Botany The basal end of a plant cutting or tuber used in propagation.
13. Oppression; tyranny: under the heel of Stalinism; the heel of an autocrat.
14. Informal A dishonorable man; a cad.
15. To furnish with a heel or heels.
16. To repair or replace the heels, as for shoes.
17. Slang To furnish, especially with money.
18. To arm (a gamecock) with gaffs.
19. To press or strike with the heel: heel a horse.
20. To follow at one's heels: The dog won't heel.
21. down at the heels Having one's shoe heels worn down.
22. down at the heels Shabby; rundown; poor.
23. lay by the heels To put in fetters or shackles; imprison.
24. on Directly behind.
25. on Immediately following.
26. heel Having holes in one's socks or shoes.
27. heel Rundown; shabby; seedy.
28. take to (one's) heels To run away; flee.
29. to heel Close behind: The hound followed his master to heel.
30. to heel Under discipline or control: The army swiftly brought the rebels to heel.
31. To tilt or cause to tilt to one side.
32. A tilt, as of a boat, to one side.