peal

[ peel ]
See synonyms for: pealpealedpealing on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a loud, prolonged ringing of bells.

  2. a set of bells tuned to one another.

  1. a series of changes rung on a set of bells.

  2. any loud, sustained sound or series of sounds, as of cannon, thunder, applause, or laughter.

verb (used with object)
  1. to sound loudly and sonorously: to peal the bells of a tower.

  2. Obsolete. to assail with loud sounds.

verb (used without object)
  1. to sound forth in a peal; resound.

Origin of peal

1
1350–1400; Middle English pele, akin to peal to beat, strike (now dial.)

Other words for peal

Other words from peal

  • in·ter·peal, verb (used with object)
  • un·pealed, adjective

Words that may be confused with peal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use peal in a sentence

  • Bells were pealing and tolling in all directions, and the air was filled with the sound of distant shouts and cries.

    Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. Carryl
  • In Manila particularly, amidst the pealing of bells and strains of music, unfeigned enthusiasm and joy were everywhere evident.

    The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
  • “But she may be happy,” Lady Engleton suggested when the ceremony was over, and the organ was pealing out the wedding march.

  • Never before was the sky more blue, the air more sweet, the village church bells' pealing merrier.

    God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis
  • Still the Bells, pealing forth their changes, made the very air spin.

British Dictionary definitions for peal (1 of 2)

peal1

/ (piːl) /


noun
  1. a loud prolonged usually reverberating sound, as of bells, thunder, or laughter

  2. bell-ringing a series of changes rung in accordance with specific rules, consisting of not fewer than 5000 permutations in a ring of eight bells

  1. (not in technical usage) the set of bells in a belfry

verb
  1. (intr) to sound with a peal or peals

  2. (tr) to give forth loudly and sonorously

  1. (tr) to ring (bells) in peals

Origin of peal

1
C14 pele, variant of apele appeal

British Dictionary definitions for peal (2 of 2)

peal2

/ (piːl) /


noun
  1. a dialect name for a grilse or a young sea trout

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012