recoil

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To spring back, as upon firing.
2. v. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
3. v. To fall back; return: "Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent” ( Arthur Conan Doyle).
4. n. The backward action of a firearm upon firing.
5. n. The act or state of recoiling; reaction.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To draw back; go back; retreat; take a sudden backward motion after an advance.
2. To start or draw back, as from anything repulsive, distressing, alarming, or the like; shrink.
3. To fall, rush, start, bound, or roll back, as in consequence of resistance which cannot be overcome by the force impressed; return after a certain strain or impetus: literally or figuratively.
4. To fall off; degenerate.
5. To drive back.
6. n. A drawing back; retreat.
7. n. A backward movement; a rebound: literally or figuratively.
8. n. Specifically, the rebound or resilience of a firearm or a piece of ordnance when discharged.
9. To coil again.

Wiktionary

1. n. The amount of 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.
2. v. To pull back, especially in disgust, horror or astonishment.
3. v. To retire, withdraw.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. To start, roll, bound, spring, or fall back; to take a reverse motion; to be driven or forced backward; to return.
2. v. To draw back, as from anything repugnant, distressing, alarming, or the like; to shrink.
3. v. To turn or go back; to withdraw one's self; to retire.
4. v. To draw or go back.
5. n. A starting or falling back; a rebound; a shrinking.
6. n. The state or condition of having recoiled.
7. n. Specifically, the reaction or rebounding of a firearm when discharged.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. come back to the originator of an action with an undesired effect
2. v. spring back; spring away from an impact
3. v. spring back, as from a forceful thrust
4. n. the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired
5. v. draw back, as with fear or pain
6. n. a movement back from an impact