careen

careen Definition

ca·reen (kə rēn′)

transitive verb

to cause (a ship) to lean or lie on one side, as on a beach, for cleaning, repairs, etc.
to caulk, clean, or repair (a ship in this position)
to cause to lean sideways; tip; tilt

Etymology: Fr carener, careen < OFr carène, carine < OIt carena < L carina, keel of a ship, orig., nutshell: see hard

intransitive verb

noun

the act or position of careening

careen Synonyms

lean, sway, tilt, lurch; see bend 2, lean 1, reel.

careen Usage Examples

Followed by a transitive particle

off: I am ready for the flight to drop into the drink or careen off the runway in a ball of fire.

Object

boat: Note that in some instances the plate can only be re-fitted by careening the boat ( lying it on its side ).
course: A single misstep and the world may well be set off on a careening course to destruction.

Particle object:

road: On a tight turn, she lost control and the car flipped twice as it careened off the road into a ditch.

Modifying Another Word

wildly: Hitting a loose rail the train went careening wildly off the track, killing the train's conductor and its brakeman.
so: As she settled more and more onto her starboard side, she careened so that some of the passengers stepped into the sea.

Followed by an intransitive particle

out: Although the mood suggests a decadent civilization careening out of control, Eyes Wide Shut ended up for me as a life-affirming experience.
around: The machine's brushed chrome interior split his reflection, sent hazy multiples of it careening around its walls.
off: Then, we split off in pairs to careen off down this pretty long rapids.

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