heel

heel¹ Definition

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
1. the part of a stocking, shoe, etc. that covers the heel
2. the built-up part of a shoe or boot supporting the heel
3. 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
1. to provide (a person) with money: usually in the passive
2. 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

heel¹ Related Forms

heel′·less adjective

heel¹ Idioms

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 of

close 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 heels

to 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

heel² Definition

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 Synonyms

heel

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

close behind, in back of, behind; see following.

cool one's heels*

be kept waiting, loiter, linger; see wait 1.

down at the heel(s)

shabby, seedy, rundown; see worn 2.

kick up one's heels

be lively, have fun, enjoy oneself; see play 1, 2.

on the heels of

close behind, in back of, behind; see following.

out at the heel(s)

shabby, seedy, rundown; see worn 2.

show one's heels

run away, flee, take flight; see escape.

take to one's heels

Antonyms run away, flee, take flight;

turn on one's heel

turn around, reverse, shift; see turn 1, 2.

heel Synonyms

heel

follow, stay by one's heel, attend; see obey 1.

heel Usage Examples

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.

heel Quotes

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.

—Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)

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.

—Kipling, (Joseph) Rudyard

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

—Bible (Old Testament)

The world rolls under the long thrust of his heel. Over the cage floor the horizons come.

—Hughes,Ted (Edward James)

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.

—Crane, (Harold) Hart

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.

—Bible (Old Testament)

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