I. kəˈrēn noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French carène keel, from Old Italian carena, from Latin carina keel, nutshell; akin to Greek karyon nut, Sanskrit karkara hard — more at hard
archaic : the act or process of careening : the state of being careened — used chiefly in the phrase on the careen
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause (a boat) to lean over on one side (as on a beach) making the other side accessible for repairs below the waterline
b. : to clean, calk, or repair (a boat in this position)
2. : to cause to heel over
high waves careened the ship
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to perform the operation of careening a boat
b. : to clean, calk, or repair a boat in a careened position
orders were to careen and refit
c. : to undergo this process
the ship is careening at that port
2. : to heel over (as of a ship under a breeze)
3. : to sway from side to side : lurch
the taxi careened west toward the main avenue