ScienceJuly 15, 2026
recoil
/rɪˈkɔɪl/
Definition
The backward movement or kickback reaction of an object resulting from the emission of energy or a force.
Etymology
The word originates from the Old French 'reculer,' meaning to go back or fall back. It entered English in the 14th century, evolving from the roots 're-' (back) and 'cul' (bottom or hindquarters).
In the news
In this article, recoil describes the physical pushback experienced by the light pulse when it emits Hawking radiation. This reaction is significant because it provides evidence of how a black hole loses energy and mass, known as evaporation.
'Smaller than the tiniest scale in nature': Physicists made a black hole out of light and used it to test Stephen Hawking's elusive radiation theory
Read the full article ↗Live Science