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careen

Archaic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

To tilt or lean sharply to one side, especially describing a ship listing dangerously; also to rush forward recklessly or move at high speed while swaying.

Detailed Definition
In nautical poetry, “careen” describes a ship heeling in wind or being beached for repair. Metaphorically, it suggests instability or wild motion. Poets use it to depict emotional or societal imbalance—lovers “careening toward ruin,” nations in chaos. Its dynamic verb form energizes action sequences, while its maritime origin ties it to themes of risk, navigation, and fate in adventure verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
"The ship careened in the tempest," in a sea ballad; In nautical poetry, "careen" means to lean or heel over; "She careened like a drunken dancer," a metaphor in decadent verse; Milton uses "careen" in Paradise Lost for celestial motion; "The chariot careened down the mountain path"; His mind careened between hope and despair.
Additional Notes
“Careen” originally described a ship tilting for repair, then evolved to mean reckless leaning or rushing; in nautical poetry, it conveys instability or danger, and metaphorically suggests emotional or moral imbalance in turbulent scenes.
Also Known As
lurch heel tilt
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