heel
heel (hēl)
noun
- the back part of the human foot, under the ankle and behind the instep
- the corresponding part of the hind foot of an animal
- the part of a stocking, shoe, etc. that covers the heel
- the built-up part of a shoe or boot supporting the heel
- women's low-cut shoes with medium to high heels
- crushing oppressive or tyrannical power under the heel of fascism
- anything suggesting the human heel in location, shape, or function, as the end of a loaf of bread, a rind end of cheese, the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist, the part of the head of a golf club nearest the shaft, the lower end of a ship's mast, or a small quantity of liquor left in a bottle
- ☆ Informal a despicable or unscrupulous person; cad
Etymology: ME hele < OE hela, akin to Du hiel < Gmc *hanhila < *hanha < IE base *kenk-, leg joint, heel
transitive verb
- to furnish with a heel
- to follow closely at the rear of
- to touch, press, or drive forward with or as with the heel
- to equip (a gamecock) with metal spurs
- ☆ Informal
- to provide (a person) with money: usually in the passive
- to equip or arm (oneself)
- Golf to hit (a ball) with the heel of the club
intransitive verb
- to follow along at the heels of someone to teach a dog to heel
- to move the heels rhythmically in dancing
at heel
close to someone's heels; just behind
cool one's heels
Informal to wait or be kept waiting for a considerable time
dig in one's heels
down at the heel
- with the heels of one's shoes in need of repair
- shabby; seedy; run-down
heel in
to cover (plant roots) temporarily with earth in preparation for planting
kick up one's heels
to be lively or merry; have fun
on the heels of
or upon the heels ofclose behind; immediately following
out at the heel (or heels)
- having holes in the heels of one's shoe(s) or sock(s)
- shabby; seedy; run-down
show one's heels
or show a clean pair of heelsto run away
take to one's heels
to run away
to heel
- close to someone's heels; just behind
- under discipline or control
turn on one's heel
to turn around abruptly
heel (hēl)
intransitive verb
to lean or tilt to one side, as a ship or boat in a high wind
Etymology: with assimilated -d < ME helden < OE hieldan (*healdjan), to incline, slope < base of heald, sloping, bent < IE base *el-, to incline > (via *lei-) L -clinare, incline
transitive verb
to cause (a vessel) to heel
noun
- the act of heeling
- the extent of this
heel
n.
Hind part of the foot
hock, spur, hind toe, Achilles' tendon; see also foot 2.The portion of the shoe under the heel, sense 1
lift, heelpiece, wedgie. see also bottom 1, foundation 2.Varieties of heels include: French, military, Cuban, low, high, spike, sensible, rubber, leather, plastic, wooden, stacked, spring, wedge;
An object resembling a heel
crust, spur, base, after-end, cyma reversa; see also bottom 1, end 4.*A worthless individual
scamp, skunk, trickster; see rascal.
at heel
cool one's heels*
down at the heel(s)
kick up one's heels
on the heels of
out at the heel(s)
show one's heels
take to one's heels
Antonyms
turn on one's heel
Preposition: of
- announcement: Hot on the heels of the announcement of their monster find came another from Washington State.
Converse of object
- wear: Sawyer lets slip a comment about a man wearing built-up heels.
- crack: For really bad calluses and cracked heels, try using the Purple Nail Shaping Pad to further buff away rough patches.
- reinforce: The Bas Prestige is made from 100 % non-stretch, 15 denier nylon and has a reinforced heel and toe.
Adjective modifier
- Cuban: Move on, don't dig your Cuban heels in.
- chunky: Get something with a chunky heel that you can run around in, but also wear with your kids.
- high: The higher heel takes the stress of the injured tendon.
- sore: But Jonathan Woodgate was out of contention with a sore heel and was replaced at the heart of defense by Lucas Radebe.
Modifies a noun
- spur: When there is no indication of bone enlargement, the condition is also referred to as " heel spur syndrome.
- cushioning: Studies have shown that excessive heel cushioning can be a contributing factor.
- pain: A comparison of shoe inserts in relieving mechanical heel pain.
- bone: The less common pain arises at the back of the heel where the Achilles tendon is attached to the heel bone.
- protector: However the extended Achilles heel protector also stops the sock slipping down inside the shoe.
- restraint: Black/white leather rowing shoes with two Velcro straps and leather heel restraints.
Noun used with modifier
- stiletto: Years of disco dancing in stiletto heels have definitely taken their toll on Barbie's dainty arched feet.
- achilles: Even mighty foes will have an achilles heel which the diligent player can exploit.
- kitten: Women drifting down the slope of middle age dig in their kitten heels.
- wedge: Each shoe has a thick sole and high wedge heel.
- Cuban: They're black and for the first time in that size, have a cuban heel.
- spike: Mind you, I wasn't wearing spike heels at the time -- or have I at any time, for that matter.
I have made my song a coat Covered with embroideries Out of old mythologies From heel to throat; But the fools caught it, Wore it in the world's eyes As though they'd wrought it. Song, let them take it, For there's more enterprise In walking naked.
There be triple ways to take, of the eagle or the snake, Or the way of a man with a maid; But the sweetest way to me is a ship's upon the sea In the heel of the North-East Trade.
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
The world rolls under the long thrust of his heel. Over the cage floor the horizons come.
Our Meistersinger, thou set breath in steel; And it was thou who on the boldest heel Stood up and flung the span on even wing Of that great Bridge, our Myth, whereof I sing.
And the L God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly thou shalt go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
