Backlash

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Backlash \Back"lash`\ (b[a^]k"l[a^]sh`), n. [Back, adv. + lash.]
     1. (Mech.) The distance through which one part of connected
        machinery, as a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved
        without moving the connected parts, resulting from
        looseness in fitting or from wear; also, the jarring or
        reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by


        irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A strong and sudden reverse movement in a moving part of a
        machine.
        [PJC]
  
     3. A strong popular reaction serving to counter the effect of
        an action; -- used especially of adverse reactions to
        social or political developments.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  backlash
       n 1: a movement back from an impact [syn: {recoil}, {repercussion},
             {rebound}]
       2: an adverse reaction to some political or social occurrence;
          "there was a backlash of intolerance"
       v : have an unexpected and undesired effect; "Your comments may
           backfire and cause you a lot of trouble" [syn: {backfire}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  61 Moby Thesaurus words for "backlash":
     antagonism, antipathy, backfire, backlashing, backwash, boomerang,
     bounce, bounce back, bound, carom, clashing, clout, collision,
     conflict, confutation, contradiction, contraposition, contrariety,
     contrecoup, counteraction, counterposition, counterworking,
     crankiness, crotchetiness, dissent, force, friction, impact,
     impress, impression, imprint, interference, kick, kick back,
     kickback, mark, nonconformity, opposition, opposure, oppugnance,
     oppugnancy, perverseness, print, reaction, rebound, rebuff,
     recalcitrance, recalcitration, recoil, reflex, renitency,
     repercussion, repugnance, repulse, resilience, resistance,
     response, revolt, ricochet, spring, swimming upstream