heel

The rounded back part of your foot, below your ankle.

• My heel hurts.
• These shoes gave me blisters on both heels.
• She raised her heels and stood on her toes.

Common phrases: sore heel, left heel, heel pain

The part under the back of a shoe, which may raise your foot above the ground.

• The heel of my shoe broke.
• These boots have low heels.
• He took his shoes to a shop to replace the worn heels.

Common phrases: high heel, low heel, shoe heel

The thick part of your hand where your palm meets your wrist.

• Use the heel of your hand to press down.
• She pushed the door with the heel of her hand.
• He rubbed the heel of his hand across his forehead.

How to use it: the heel of someone’s hand (Press the dough with the heel of your hand.)

Common phrases: heel of the hand, heel of your hand

The lowest or last part of an object, such as the base of a ship’s tall pole.

• The heel of the mast was damaged.
• Only the heel of the loaf remained.
• The carpenter shaped the heel of the wooden support.

How to use it: the heel of something (The heel of the mast fits into a socket.)

Similar words: base, end

Common phrases: heel of a mast, heel of a loaf

To walk very close beside or behind someone, especially when a dog follows its owner.

• My dog can heel.
• The puppy heeled beside me throughout our walk.
• Can you teach this dog to heel?

Similar words: follow closely

Common phrases: heel beside someone, teach to heel

To kick or push something using the back of your foot.

• She heeled her horse forward.
• The rider heeled the horse gently to make it move.
• He heeled the ball backward to his teammate.

Common phrases: heel a horse, heel something backward