Looking for the meaning or definition of the word recoil? Here's what it means.
Noun
A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.
The state or condition of having recoiled.
(firearms) The energy transmitted back to the shooter from a firearm which has fired. Recoil is a function of the weight of the weapon, the weight of the projectile, and the speed at which it leaves the muzzle.
Verb
(intransitive, now rare) To retreat before an opponent. [from 14th c.]
(obsolete, intransitive) To retire, withdraw. [15th-18th c.]