repel

Universal Words verb (-ll-) 1 [VN] (formal) to successfully fight sb who is attacking you, your country, etc. and drive them away: to repel an attack / invasion / invader * Troops repelled an attempt to infiltrate the south of the island. * (figurative) The reptile's prickly skin repels nearly all of its predators. 2 [VN] to drive, push or keep sth away: a cream that repels insects * The fabric has been treated to repel water. 3 [VN] (not used in the progressive tenses) to make sb feel horror or disgust: I was repelled by the smell. 4 (technical) if one thing repels another, or if two things repel each other, an electrical or MAGNETIC force pushes them apart: [VN] Like poles repel each other. [also V] OPPATTRACT seealsoREPULSION, REPULSIVE