keel

C1 Topic:Maritime & Sailing

US /kiːl/ UK /kiːl/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like kill /ɪ/ vs /iː/

Freq #19051

Meanings

1

noun
the main lengthwise structure along the bottom of a ship or boat, supporting its frame and helping stabilize it

The blast struck near the keel but did not break the vessel's hull.
2

noun
a prominent central ridge resembling a ship's keel, such as on a bird's breastbone or a flower petal

The bird's deep keel anchors the powerful muscles used in flight.
3

verb
to turn a boat onto its side or upside down, or cause it to do so

A sudden gust keeled the small boat, throwing both sailors into the water.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with keel

keel over Phrasal verb C1

to topple sideways or collapse

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the main lengthwise... structural spine

2 noun · a prominent central ridge... ridge

Word family

Forms keeledkeels

Derived forms keelboatkeellesskeelson

Related forms hullcarinavessel

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

bilge keel
a long fin fitted along a ship's lower hull to reduce rolling

Noun + noun
keel over
to topple sideways or collapse

Verb + adverb

Etymology

From Middle English kele, probably from Old Norse kjǫlr, 'keel,' and related to Old English cēol, 'ship.' The anatomical and botanical ridge senses arose by resemblance to the projecting structural line beneath a vessel.

Topics

Maritime & Sailing Transportation

External links

# keel

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /kiːl/
**IPA (UK):** /kiːl/
**Frequency rank:** 19051

## Meanings
1. the main lengthwise structure along the bottom of a ship or boat, supporting its frame and helping stabilize it
2. a prominent central ridge resembling a ship's keel, such as on a bird's breastbone or a flower petal
3. to turn a boat onto its side or upside down, or cause it to do so

## Examples
- The blast struck near the keel but did not break the vessel's hull.
- The bird's deep keel anchors the powerful muscles used in flight.
- A sudden gust keeled the small boat, throwing both sailors into the water.

## Derived Forms
- keelboat
- keelless
- keelson

## Related Forms
- hull
- carina
- vessel

## Etymology
From Middle English kele, probably from Old Norse kjǫlr, 'keel,' and related to Old English cēol, 'ship.' The anatomical and botanical ridge senses arose by resemblance to the projecting structural line beneath a vessel.

## Topics
- Maritime & Sailing
- Transportation

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