Definition

1. Noun:

   • The back part of the human foot below the ankle: The rounded, rear part of the foot that bears weight.
   • The part of a shoe, sock, or boot that covers or supports the heel: The raised or shaped rear section of footwear.
   • A contemptible or untrustworthy person: Someone who is considered morally reprehensible or despicable.
   • The end of a loaf of bread: The crusty outer end of a loaf.
   • A part of a tool or implement: Specifically, the part of a golf club head where it joins the shaft, or the lower end of a ship's mast.

2. Verb:

   • To follow closely behind someone: To pursue or follow at a very short distance.
   • To add or repair the heel on a shoe or boot: To attach a new heel to footwear.
   • To tilt or lean to one side: Used especially for a ship or boat leaning under pressure from wind or weight.
   • To strike a golf ball with the heel of the club: A specific action in golf.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • She had a blister on her heel after the long walk.
  • The heel of my boot is worn down.
  • Don't trust him; he's a real heel.
  • My brother always eats the heel of the bread loaf first.

• Verb:

  • The dog heeled obediently at its owner's side.
  • I need to heel these shoes; the back is completely worn out.
  • The sailboat heeled sharply in the strong wind.

Advanced Usage

• "To bring someone to heel": To force someone to obey or submit to authority.

  • The new manager quickly brought the unruly department to heel.

• "To cool one's heels": To be kept waiting for a period of time.

  • I had to cool my heels in the reception area for over an hour.

• "Achilles' heel": A critical weakness or vulnerable point in an otherwise strong person or system.

  • Overconfidence was his Achilles' heel.

Variants and Related Words

• Heeled (adj): Having a heel or heels of a specified type (e.g., ).
• Heeler (n): A dog trained to follow at a person's heels; (informal) a loyal political follower.
• Heelless (adj): Without a heel (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Noun (for the foot part): None that are exact. "Calcaneus" is the anatomical bone.
• Noun (for a despicable person): Scoundrel, rogue, cad.
• Verb (to follow): Follow, trail, shadow.
• Verb (to tilt): List, lean, tilt.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Heel over: To tilt or lean, especially of a ship.
  • The ferry heeled over as it made the sharp turn.

Related Idioms

• Down at (the) heel(s): Shabby or poor in appearance, especially due to worn-out shoes or clothes.

  • The old mansion looked rather down at heel.

• Head over heels: Deeply in love; or, turning over completely in a somersault.

  • She fell head over heels for the new neighbor.

• On/upon the heels of: Following very closely after something.

  • The economic crisis came on the heels of the political scandal.

• Take to one's heels: To run away.

  • When the alarm sounded, the thieves took to their heels.

Noun

1. (golf) the part of the clubhead where it joins the shaft
2. the lower end of a ship's mast
3. one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread
4. someone who is morally reprehensible
   • you dirty dog
5. the back part of the human foot
6. the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

Verb

1. put a new heel on
   • heel shoes
2. strike with the heel of the club
   • heel a golf ball
3. perform with the heels
   • heel that dance
4. follow at the heels of a person
5. tilt to one side
   • The balloon heeled over
   • the wind made the vessel heel
   • The ship listed to starboard