Definition

1. Noun:

   • A glancing rebound: A ricochet is the rebound, bounce, or skip of a projectile (like a bullet or stone) after hitting a surface at an angle.

2. Verb:

   • To spring back; to rebound off a surface: To ricochet means to bounce or glance off a surface, especially at an angle, after hitting it.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The bullet hit the wall with a loud ricochet.
  • We heard the ricochet of the stone across the frozen lake.

• Verb:

  • The bullet ricocheted off the metal door.
  • The ball ricocheted between the two walls before coming to a stop.

Advanced Usage

• Used figuratively: The verb can describe ideas, sounds, or effects that rebound or are deflected indirectly.
  • His harsh words ricocheted around the silent room.
  • The economic shock ricocheted through global markets.

Variants and Related Words

• Ricocheted (verb, past tense): The past tense and past participle form.
  • The hail ricocheted off the car's roof.
• Ricocheting (verb, present participle/gerund): The act of rebounding.
  • We watched the puck ricocheting around the boards.

Synonyms

• Rebound: To spring back after impact.
• Glance: To strike a surface at an angle and deflect off it.
• Carom: To strike and rebound, especially in billiards or similar contexts.
• Deflect: To cause something to change direction by interposing something.

Related Phrases

• Ricochet effect: A situation where an action has unintended secondary consequences.
  • The policy had a ricochet effect, hurting the very people it was meant to help.
• Ricochet fire: Gunfire aimed so that bullets will skip or rebound off a surface to hit a target.
  • The soldiers used ricochet fire to hit enemies behind cover.

Noun

1. a glancing rebound

Verb

1. spring back; spring away from an impact
   • The rubber ball bounced
   • These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide