Careen: meaning, definitions and examples

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careen

 

[ kษ™หˆriหn ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

movement speed

To careen means to move swiftly in an uncontrolled manner, often tilting or swerving. It is commonly used to describe vehicles, especially when they are moving at high speed or are out of control. The term can also apply to any object that is moving in a reckless or unsteady way. It derives from the idea of something that is not securely balanced and is at risk of tipping over.

Synonyms

lurch, sway, swerve, tilt

Examples of usage

  • The car careened around the corner.
  • The ship careened through the rough waters.
  • He watched as the bicycle careened down the hill.
Context #2 | Verb

ship maintenance

In nautical terms, to careen refers to the process of leaning a ship on its side to clean, caulk, or repair its hull. This practice allows shipwrights to access parts of the vessel that are usually submerged. The word conveys a technical aspect of ship maintenance and indicates the careful manipulation of the ship's balance in order to achieve proper access.

Synonyms

lean, pitch, tilt

Examples of usage

  • The sailors needed to careen the ship for repairs.
  • During the storm, they decided to careen the vessel to check for damage.
  • He is skilled in the art of careening ships safely.

Translations

Translations of the word "careen" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น desviar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฒเฅเคขเคผเค•เคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช schlingern

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ meluncur

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะบั€ะตะฝะธั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ przechylaฤ‡ siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ‚พใ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท s'incliner

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ inclinarse

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท yan yatmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ธฐ์šธ๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ูŠู…ูŠู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ naklรกnฤ›t se

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ naklรกลˆaลฅ sa

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ€พๆ–œ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ nagniti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ halla

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›ะธัะฐัŽ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›ุงุฆู„แƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ meyl etmษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ inclinaciรณn

Word origin

The word 'careen' comes from the late Middle English 'careynen,' which itself is derived from the Old French 'cariner', meaning 'to lean or to tilt.' The term is rooted in the nautical field, where it was initially used to describe the action of a ship tilting to one side for maintenance purposes. Over time, the meaning expanded to include any swift, uncontrolled movement. The word's evolution reflects its connections to both maritime practices and more general contexts of movement. In the 18th century, it became increasingly common to describe the way vehicles, especially cars, behave in sudden or reckless conditions, leading to its current dual usage in both nautical and vehicular contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,225, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.