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| keel [ keel ] |
noun (plural keels) |
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| Definition: |
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1. nautical ship's structural element: the main structural element of a ship, stretching along the center line of its bottom from the bow to the stern. It sometimes extends farther downward into the water to provide extra stability.
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2. aviation aircraft's structural element: a structure that looks or acts like a ship's keel, e.g. the main structural element of an aircraft's fuselage
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3. birds part of bird's breastbone: a ridge-shaped part in the breastbone of a bird to which the flight muscles are anchored.
Technical name carina
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4. biology part like ridge: any ridge-shaped part of an organism
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5.
(
literary
)
Same as ship
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transitive and intransitive verb (past and past participle keeled, present participle keel·ing, 3rd person present singular keels) |
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| Definition: |
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nautical capsize: to capsize a vessel, or capsize
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| [14th century. < Old Norse kjölr] |
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on an even keel in a stable steady condition
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