KEEL
Dictionary entry overview: What does keel mean?
• KEEL (noun)
The noun KEEL has 2 senses:
1. the median ridge on the breastbone of birds that fly
2. one of the main longitudinal beams (or plates) of the hull of a vessel; can extend vertically into the water to provide lateral stability
Familiarity information: KEEL used as a noun is rare.
• KEEL (verb)
The verb KEEL has 1 sense:
1. walk as if unable to control one's movements
Familiarity information: KEEL used as a verb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• KEEL (noun)
Meaning:
The median ridge on the breastbone of birds that fly
Classified under:
Nouns denoting body parts
Hypernyms ("keel" is a kind of...):
carina (any of various keel-shaped structures or ridges such as that on the breastbone of a bird or that formed by the fused petals of a pea blossom)
Holonyms ("keel" is a part of...):
carinate; carinate bird; flying bird (birds having keeled breastbones for attachment of flight muscles)
Meaning:
One of the main longitudinal beams (or plates) of the hull of a vessel; can extend vertically into the water to provide lateral stability
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("keel" is a kind of...):
beam (long thick piece of wood or metal or concrete, etc., used in construction)
Meronyms (parts of "keel"):
fin keel (a metal plate projecting from the keel of a shallow vessel to give it greater lateral stability)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "keel"):
bilge keel (either of two lengthwise fins attached along the outside of a ship's bilge; reduces rolling)
Holonyms ("keel" is a part of...):
hull (the frame or body of ship)
• KEEL (verb)
Meaning:
Walk as if unable to control one's movements
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
careen; keel; lurch; reel; stagger; swag
Context example:
The drunken man staggered into the room
Hypernyms (to "keel" is one way to...):
walk (use one's feet to advance; advance by steps)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
