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heel
The word evokes a sense of the lowest or outermost point of a structure. Whether it is the base of a foot, the end of a loaf, or the back of a shoe, it represents a boundary or a support point.
When applied to a person, the term shifts from a physical location to a moral judgment. Calling someone a heel suggests they are low-life or lacking in integrity, mirroring the physical position of the heel as the bottom-most part of the body.
Countable when referring to a specific body part, a shoe component, or a despicable person. Uncountable when referring to the general concept of the rear part of a loaf of bread.
Meanings
Examples
Phrasal Verbs
heel over
to tilt or capsize, typically referring to a ship
The yacht heeled over sharply as the strong wind hit the sails.