different between repulsion vs repel

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French répulsion, from Late Latin repulsio, repulsionem, from Latin repulsus.

Noun

repulsion (countable and uncountable, plural repulsions)

1. The act of repelling or the condition of being repelled.
2. An extreme dislike of something, or hostility to something.
3. (physics) The repulsive force acting between bodies of the same electric charge or magnetic polarity.

Antonyms

• attraction

Related terms

• repel
• repulse
• repulsive
• repellent

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

• neuropils

Piedmontese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /repyl?sju?/

Noun

repulsion f

1. repulsion

English

Etymology

From Middle English repellen, a borrowing from Old French *repeller, from Latin repellere (“to drive back”), from re- (“back”) + pellere (“to drive”). Doublet of repeal.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???p?l/

Verb

repel (third-person singular simple present repels, present participle repelling, simple past and past participle repelled)

1. (transitive, now rare) To turn (someone) away from a privilege, right, job, etc. [from 15th c.]
2. (transitive) To reject, put off (a request, demand etc.). [from 15th c.]
3. (transitive) To ward off (a malignant influence, attack etc.). [from 15th c.]
4. (transitive) To drive back (an assailant, advancing force etc.). [from 15th c.]
   • 2011, Ian Traynor, The Guardian, 19 May 2011:

     In nearby Zintan, rebels repelled an advance by Gaddafi's forces, killing eight and taking one prisoner, a local activist said.

5. (transitive, physics) To force away by means of a repulsive force. [from 17th c.]
6. (transitive) To cause repulsion or dislike in; to disgust. [from 18th c.]
   • 2008, The Guardian, 26 Jan 2008:

     However, while the idea of a free holiday appeals enormously, I am frankly repelled by the idea of spending a couple of weeks in your company.

7. (transitive, sports) To save (a shot).

Synonyms

• (nonstandard, rare) withdrive

Antonyms

• attract

Related terms

• repulse
• repulsion
• repulsive
• repellent

Translations

Further reading

• repel in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• repel in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• repel at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• Epler, Lepre, leper