re·pel (r -p l )v. re·pelled, re·pel·ling, re·pels v.tr. 1. To ward off or keep away; drive back: repel insects. 2. To offer resistance to; fight against: repel an invasion. 3. To refuse to accept; reject: a company that was trying to repel a hostile takeover. 4. To turn away from; spurn. 5. To cause aversion or distaste in: Your rudeness repels everyone. See Synonyms at disgust. See Usage Note at repulse. 6. To be resistant to; be incapable of absorbing or mixing with: Oil repels water. 7. Physics To present an opposing force to; push back or away by a force: Electric charges of the same sign repel one another. v.intr. 1. To offer a resistant force to something. 2. To cause aversion or distaste: behavior that repels. [Middle English repellen, from Old French repeller, from Latin repellere : re-, re- + pellere, to drive; see pel-5 in Indo-European roots.] re·pel ler n. |
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