verb
careen
kuh-REEN/kəˈriːn/
Move wildly, swerving or lurching from side to side.
The cyclist careens downhill, struggling to control the sharply swerving bicycle.
Etymology
Exposing a ship's keel required turning it on its side, leading to the sense of tilting or lurching. Confusion with career, meaning “move rapidly,” helped produce the sense of fast, unsteady movement.
More examples
- He careened around the corner on his bicycle.
- The boat careens through the choppy water.
- Loose barrels go careening across the slippery deck.
Forms
careen · careens · careened · careening