heel over
C1 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
When a boat leans over to one side.
Literal meaning: For the heel (lower side/base) to tilt over.
Meanings
1 C1 neutral
For a sailing vessel to lean or tilt to one side, typically caused by wind pressure on the sails.
"As the squall hit, the yacht heeled over sharply and we all grabbed the railings."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 neutral
For any object or person to lean or tilt dangerously to one side.
"The old chimney stack heeled over in the storm and collapsed into the garden."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Primarily a nautical/sailing term. 'Heel' is the standard sailing term for a boat's sideways tilt. Can also be used loosely of any object tilting over.
Commonly used with
boat ship yacht vessel wind wave
Forms
Base
heel over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
heels over
he/she/it
Past simple
heeled over
yesterday
Past participle
heeled over
have + pp
-ing form
heeling over
continuous
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