\ ˈkēl
\
\
keeled; keeling; keels
Definition of keel
(Entry 1 of 5)
1
: to fall in or as if in a faint
—usually used with over keeled over from exhaustion
keel
noun (1)Definition of keel (Entry 2 of 5)
1a
: the chief structural member of a boat or ship that extends longitudinally along the center of its bottom and that often projects from the bottom
also
: this projection
b
: ship
2
: a projection suggesting the keel of a boat or ship: such as
a
: an anatomical process forming a ridge (as on the sternum of a bird) : carina sense 1
b
botany
: the lower part of a papilionaceous flower (as of a pea or bean plant) that consists of two fused petals, lies between the wings (see wing sense 2e(2)), and encloses the pistil and stamens
The keel, the lowest petal of the pea-like flower, is short and rounded.— Sylvan T. Runkel and Dean M. Roose
keel
noun (2)Definition of keel (Entry 3 of 5)
: a flat-bottomed barge used especially on the Tyne to carry coal
keel
verb (2)
keeled; keeling; keels
Definition of keel (Entry 4 of 5)
chiefly dialectal
: cool
keel
noun (3)Definition of keel (Entry 5 of 5)
chiefly dialectal
Other Words from keel
Noun (1)
keeled
\
ˈkēld
\
adjective
\
adjective
keelless
\
ˈkēl-ləs
\
adjective
\
adjective
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Cite this Entry
“Keel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keel. Accessed 18 Apr. 2021.
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More Definitions for keel
keel
noun
\ ˈkēl
\
\
Kids Definition of keel
: a long heavy piece of wood or metal that runs along and usually sticks out from the center of the bottom of a ship
keel
noun
\ ˈkēl
\
\
Medical Definition of keel
: acute septicemic salmonellosis or paratyphoid of ducklings marked by sudden collapse and death of apparently healthy birds
— called also keel disease
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Time Traveler for keel
The first known use of keel was before the 12th century
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