propel

• POS: Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: pro=pel

CIDE DICTIONARY

propel, v. t. [L. propellere, propulsum; pro forward + pellere to drive. See Pulse a beating.].

 To drive forward; to urge or press onward by force; to move, or cause to move; as, the wind or steam propels ships; balls are propelled by gunpowder.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

propel, v.tr. (propelled, propelling)
1 drive or push forward.
2 urge on; encourage.

Idiom

propelling pencil a pencil with a replaceable lead moved upward by twisting the outer case.

Etymology

ME, = expel, f. L propellere (as PRO-(1), pellere puls- drive)

THESAURUS

propel

actuate, advance, animate, bowl, bunt, butt, compel, drive, drive on, egg on, energize, exhort, force, forward, foster, galvanize, get moving, give an impetus, give momentum, goad, impel, incite, launch, mobilize, motivate, move, move to action, nudge, pedal, pole, power, prick, prod, promote, prompt, push, put in motion, roll, row, send, set agoing, set going, set in motion, shove, shunt, spark, spur, start, stimulate, sweep, sweep along, thrust, treadle, troll, trundle, whip on

ROGET THESAURUS

propel

Motive

VB induce, move, draw, draw on, bring in its train, give an impulse, to, inspire, put up to, prompt, call up, attract, beckon, stimulate, spirit up, inspirit, rouse, arouse, animate, incite, foment, provoke, instigate, set on, actuate, act upon, work upon, operate upon, encourage, pat on the back, pat on the shoulder, clap on the back, clap on the shoulder, influence, weigh with, bias, sway, incline, dispose, predispose, turn the scale, inoculate, lead by the nose, have influence with, have influence over, have influence upon, exercise influence with, exercise influence over, exercise influence upon, go round, come round one, turn the head, magnetize, lobby, persuade, prevail with, prevail upon, overcome, carry, bring round to one's senses, bring to one's senses, draw over, win over, gain over, come over, talk over, procure, enlist, engage, invite, court, tempt, seduce, overpersuade, entice, allure, captivate, fascinate, bewitch, carry away, charm, conciliate, wheedle, coax, lure, inveigle, tantalize, cajole, tamper with, bribe, suborn, grease the palm, bait with a silver hook, gild the pill, make things pleasant, put a sop into the pan, throw a sop to, bait the hook, enforce, force, impel, propel, whip, lash, goad, spur, prick, urge, egg on, hound, hurry on, drag, exhort, advise, call upon, press, advocate, set an example, set the fashion, keep in countenance, be persuaded, yield to temptation, come round, concede, obey a call, follow advice, follow the bent, follow the dictates of, act on principle.

Motion

VB be in motion, move, go, hie, gang, budge, stir, pass, flit, hover about, hover round, hover about, shift, slide, glide, roll, roll on, flow, stream, run, drift, sweep along, wander, walk, change one's place, shift one's place, change one's quarters, shift one's quarters, dodge, keep going, keep moving, put in motion, set in motion, move, impel, propel, render movable, mobilize.

Propulsion

VB propel, project, throw, fling, cast, pitch, chuck, toss, jerk, heave, shy, hurl, flirt, fillip, dart, lance, tilt, ejaculate, jaculate, fulminate, bolt, drive, sling, pitchfork, send, send off, let off, fire off, discharge, shoot, launch, release, send forth, let fly, put in orbit, send into orbit, launch into orbit dash, put in motion, set in motion, set agoing, start, give a start, give an impulse to, impel, trundle, expel, carry one off one's legs, put to flight.