Definition of "keel" in English

noun

1. (nautical) A large beam along the underside of a ship’s hull from bow to stern.

2. (nautical) A rigid, flat piece of material anchored to the lowest part of the hull of a ship to give it greater control and stability.

3. (aeronautics) In a dirigible, a construction similar in form and use to a ship's keel; in an aeroplane, a fin or fixed surface employed to increase stability and to hold the machine to its course.

4. (by extension) The rigid bottom part of something else, especially an iceberg.

5. (nautical) A type of flat-bottomed boat.

6. (zoology) The periphery of a whorl extended to form a more or less flattened plate; a prominent spiral ridge.

7. (botany) The two lowest petals of the corolla of a papilionaceous flower, united and enclosing the stamens and pistil; a carina.

verb

1. (intransitive, followed by "over") to collapse, to fall

   • He keeled over after having a stroke.

2. To traverse with a keel; to navigate.

3. To turn up the keel; to show the bottom.

verb

1. (transitive, obsolete) To cool; make cool; to cool by stirring or skimming in order to keep from boiling over.

   • while greasy Joan doth keel the pot (Shakespeare)

2. (transitive, obsolete) To moderate the ardour or intensity of; assuage; to appease, pacify, or lessen.

3. (intransitive, obsolete) To become cool; cool down.

noun

1. (brewing) A broad, flat vessel used for cooling liquids; a brewer's cooling vat; a keelfat.

noun

1. (Scotland) Red chalk; ruddle.

verb

1. (Scotland, transitive) To mark with ruddle.

verb

1. (humorous, nonstandard) Pronunciation spelling of kill.