\ 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
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about keel
Dictionary Entries near keel
See More Nearby EntriesStatistics for keel
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Keel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keel. Accessed 7 May. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Keep scrolling for more
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
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on keel
What made you want to look up keel? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Star Wars Words Quiz
-
- The bounty portion of bounty hunters (such as Boba Fett) comes from a Latin word meaning
Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share keel
Time Traveler for keel
The first known use of keel was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century