keel

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /kiːl/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /kiːl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular keel

Plural keels

1. (countable) The keel is the main structural part of a boat or ship that runs along the bottom from front to back.

   The boat's keel hit the rocks and started to leak.

   A deep keel is important for a sailing boat.

2. If something is on an even keel, it's steady.
3. If someone is able to keep an even keel, they're calm.

Verb

Plain form keel

Third-person singular keels

Past tense keeled

Past participle keeled

Present participle keeling

1. If a boat keels over, it turns on its side or upside down.

   The boat keeled over in the strong wind.

2. If you keel over, you fall down because you are tired, sick, or injured.
3. If you are even keeled, you are usually calm and don't get emotional.