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ricochet Definition

rico·chet (rikə s̸hā′, rik′ə s̸hā; Brit, -s̸het′)

noun

  1. the oblique rebound or skipping of a bullet, stone, etc. after striking a surface at an angle
  2. a bullet, etc. that ricochets

Etymology: Fr; used first in fable du ricochet (story in which the narrator constantly evades the hearers' questions) < ?

intransitive verb -·cheted′-s̸hād′ or -·chet′·ted-s̸het′id, -·chet′·ing-s̸hā′iŋ or -·chet′·ting-s̸het′iŋ

to make a ricochet motion

Etymology: Fr ricocher < the n.

ricochet Synonyms

ricochet

v.

reflect, rebound, skip, glance off; see bounce 1. See syn. study at skip.

ricochet Usage Examples

Object

  • bullet: He was on duty in the Afghan capital shortly after the fall of the Taliban when a ricocheting bullet hit him in the head.
  • ball: Matty Hamshaw's hopeful ball forward somehow ricocheted through to striker Barker who drilled home at the near post from 15 yards.

Converse of object

  • avoid: The squared-off point avoids ricochets to a certain extent and increases penetration in wet pack - for reasons which are unclear to me.
  • see: Cox tried to pick his way through but an attempted clearance saw the ball ricochet off his legs.

Modifies a noun

shot: She came bouncing into the room like a ricochet shot.

Modifying Another Word

  • back: The car ricocheted back, spinning out of control.
  • then: Her words caught Daniel's senses a glancing blow and then ricocheted away into infinity.
  • away: The woodwork and the Aldershot players were visibly rattled and a hush descended on the ground as the ball ricocheted away to safety.

Noun used with modifier

  • ball: Cox tried to pick his way through but an attempted clearance saw the ball ricochet off his legs.
  • bullet: The gunfights have some nice details, especially the way Rosette's bullets ricochet with a little crucifix spark.
  • shot: Rich Payne pounced on Alex Mugan's drilled cross, only to see his goalbound shot ricochet off a defender.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • off: He was duly invited into the studio where he was hit by a bolt which ricocheted off the studio lights.
  • around: They have monitors, but these are not very effective, nor are the echoes which ricochet around the hall.

Particle object:

  • wall: Thomas Morrow: policeman, killed by a bullet ricocheting off a factory wall at Camlough in 1972.
  • post: My first shot ricocheted off the post, and I just sort of dived in and forced the ball over the line.
  • rock: We threw ourselves down to the ground and could hear the bullets ricocheting off the rocks around us.
  • tree: There were further disasters with Simon Randall ricocheting off a tree to find himself thirty yards behind his starting point.

Preposition: from

wall: Stumbling down the corridor they ricochet from wall to wall, a series of loud thumps marking their progress.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: Although his shot was initially blocked, the ball ricocheted around in the box before Duffy blasted home from six yards.
  • off: Bullets had been flying about the street all the morning, ricocheting off from the walls in a highly unpleasant manner.

Browse dictionary entries near ricochet

  1. RICO
  2. ricky-tick
  3. Rickword, Edgell
  4. rickshaw
  5. rickrack
  6. rickey
  7. rickety
  8. rickettsia
  9. rickets
  10. Rickenbacker
  1. ricotta
  2. rictus
  3. rid
  4. ridable
  5. riddance
  6. ridden
  7. riddle
  8. ride
  9. ride cymbal
  10. rider