recline Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb move the upper body backwards and down
    lean back.
  2. verb cause to recline
    • She reclined her head on the pillow
  3. verb lean in a comfortable resting position
    recumb; repose.
    • He was reposing on the couch

WordNet

Re*cline" transitive verb
Etymology
L. reclinare; pref. re- re- + clinare to lean, incline. See Incline, Lean to incline.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Reclined ; present participle & verbal noun Reclining
Definitions
  1. To cause or permit to lean, incline, rest, etc., to place in a recumbent position; as, to recline the head on the hand.
    The mother Reclined her dying head upon his breast. Dryden.
Re*cline" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To lean or incline; as, to recline against a wall.
  2. To assume, or to be in, a recumbent position; as, to recline on a couch.
Re*cline" adjective
Etymology
L. reclinis. See Recline, v. t.
Definitions
  1. Having a reclining posture; leaning; reclining. R.
    They sat, recline On the soft downy bank, damasked with flowers. Milton.

Webster 1913