noun · verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/kəˈɹiːn/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -iːn
CMU ARPABET:K ER0 IY1 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The position of a ship laid on one side.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other, in order to clean it of barnacles and weed, or to repair it below the water line.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To tilt on one side.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: heel
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To lurch or sway violently from side to side.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To tilt or lean while in motion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To career, to move rapidly straight ahead, to rush carelessly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
pitching dangerously to one side
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: rock, sway, tilt
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: lurch, pitch, pitching
9
verb
Meaning 9
move sideways or in an unsteady way
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The ship careened out of control
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wobble, shift, tilt
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: move
10
verb
Meaning 10
walk as if unable to control one's movements
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The drunken man staggered into the room
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: stagger, reel, keel, lurch, swag
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: walk
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin carīna Italian carenabor. French carènebor. English careen First attested in the late 16th century, from French carène (“keel”), from Italian carena, from Latin carīna (“keel of a ship”). Doublet of carene and carina.
Across languages
Translations
54 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
накренявам
(nakrenjavam)
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Catalan:
carenar
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Catalan:
donar carena
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Czech:
naklonit
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Finnish:
kallistaa
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
French:
caréner
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
German:
kielholen
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Hebrew:
הִטָּה
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Italian:
carenare
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Norwegian:
kjølhale
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Portuguese:
carenar
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Portuguese:
querenar
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Russian:
килева́ть
(kilevátʹ)
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Russian:
кренгова́ть
(krengovátʹ)
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Spanish:
carenar
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Spanish:
querenar
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Swedish:
kölhala
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Ukrainian:
кілювати
(kiljuvaty)
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Ukrainian:
кренгувати
(krenhuvaty)
— to heave a ship down on one side so as to expose the other
Bulgarian:
наклонявам
(naklonjavam)
— to tilt on one side
Czech:
naklonit
— to tilt on one side
Finnish:
kallistua
— to tilt on one side
French:
se coucher
— to tilt on one side
German:
krängen
— to tilt on one side
Norwegian:
krenge
— to tilt on one side
Polish:
przechylać (się)
— to tilt on one side
Polish:
przechylić (się)
— to tilt on one side
Russian:
крени́ться
(krenítʹsja)
— to tilt on one side
Russian:
накрени́ться
(nakrenítʹsja)
— to tilt on one side
Swedish:
kränga
— to tilt on one side
Ukrainian:
кренитися
(krenytysja)
— to tilt on one side
Ukrainian:
перехилятися
(perexyljatysja)
— to tilt on one side
Finnish:
heilua
— to sway violently from side to side or lurch
Finnish:
horjua
— to sway violently from side to side or lurch
French:
battre ou mettre en carène
— to sway violently from side to side or lurch
German:
schlingern
— to sway violently from side to side or lurch
Norwegian:
slingre
— to sway violently from side to side or lurch
Norwegian:
skrense
— to sway violently from side to side or lurch
Russian:
шата́ться
(šatátʹsja)
— to sway violently from side to side or lurch
Russian:
шатну́ться
(šatnútʹsja)
— to sway violently from side to side or lurch
Swedish:
kränga
— to sway violently from side to side or lurch
Ukrainian:
хитатися
(xytatysja)
— to sway violently from side to side or lurch
Norwegian:
skjene
— to tilt or lean while in motion
Polish:
kołysać (się)
— to tilt or lean while in motion
Polish:
huśtać (się)
— to tilt or lean while in motion
Polish:
wahać (się)
— to tilt or lean while in motion
Polish:
wahnąć (się)
— to tilt or lean while in motion
Swedish:
kränga
— to tilt or lean while in motion
Czech:
hnát se
— to move rapidly straight ahead
Czech:
řítit se
— to move rapidly straight ahead
Czech:
uhánět
— to move rapidly straight ahead
Czech:
pádit
— to move rapidly straight ahead
Spanish:
ir a toda velocidad
— to move rapidly straight ahead
Czech:
řítit se
— to move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way
