reel

¹

[reel]

noun

1. a cylinder, frame, or other device that turns on an axis and is used to wind up or pay out something.

2. a rotatory device attached to a fishing rod at the butt, for winding up or letting out the line.

3. Photography.

   1. a spool on which film, especially motion-picture film, is wound.

   2. a roll of motion-picture film.

   3. a holder for roll film in a developing tank.

4. a quantity of something wound on a reel.

5. Chiefly British.,  a spool of sewing thread; a roller or bobbin of sewing thread.

verb (used with object)

1. to wind on a reel, as thread, yarn, etc.

2. to unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon.

3. to pull or draw by winding a line on a reel.

   to reel a fish in.

verb phrase

1. reel off,  to say, write, or produce quickly and easily.

   The old sailor reeled off one story after another.

reel

²

[reel]

verb (used without object)

1. to sway or rock under a blow, shock, etc..

   The boxer reeled and fell.

2. to waver or fall back.

   The troops reeled and then ran.

3. to sway about in standing or walking, as from dizziness, intoxication, etc.; stagger.

4. to turn round and round; whirl.

5. to have a sensation of whirling.

   By the time we reached camp, my mind was reeling—there were so many incredible sights to take in!

6. to be in a state of shock, confusion, or disorder.

   The real-estate market is reeling from the compounding effects of oversupply, rising vacancy rates, and weak demand.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to reel.

noun

1. an act of reeling; a reeling or staggering movement.

reel

³

[reel]

noun

1. a lively Scottish dance.

2. Virginia reel.

3. music for either of these dances.

reel

¹

/ riːl, rɪəl /

noun

1. US equivalent: spool. any of various cylindrical objects or frames that turn on an axis and onto which film, magnetic tape, paper tape, wire, thread, etc, may be wound

2. angling a device for winding, casting, etc, consisting of a revolving spool with a handle, attached to a fishing rod

3. a roll of celluloid exhibiting a sequence of photographs to be projected

verb

1. to wind (cotton, thread, etc) onto a reel

2. to wind or draw with a reel

   to reel in a fish

reel

²

/ riːl, rɪəl /

verb

1. to sway, esp under the shock of a blow or through dizziness or drunkenness

2. to whirl about or have the feeling of whirling about

   his brain reeled

noun

1. a staggering or swaying motion or sensation

reel

³

/ riːl, rɪəl /

noun

1. any of various lively Scottish dances, such as the eightsome reel and foursome reel for a fixed number of couples who combine in square and circular formations

2. a piece of music having eight quavers to the bar composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

Other Word Forms

• reelable adjective
• reeler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reel¹

First recorded before 1050; Middle English noun rel(e), Old English hrēol; rēol, cognate with Old Norse hræll “weaver's rod”; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of reel²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English relen, apparently derivative of rele “rod, reel” ( reel ¹ )

Origin of reel³

First recorded in 1575–85; special use of reel ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of reel¹

Old English hrēol ; related to Old Norse hrǣll weaver's rod, Greek krekein to weave

Origin of reel²

C14 relen , probably from _reel ¹

Origin of reel³

C18: from _reel ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. off the reel, Also right off the reel.

   1. without pause; continuously.

   2. without delay or hesitation; immediately.

Synonym Study

See stagger.

Example Sentences

Though she believes it is a good sign that authorities have arrested a suspect, she said that many were still reeling from the sudden loss of their homes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Meaning cash-neutral for teams like the Dodgers — and the New York teams, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs — still reeling in big bucks amid the collapse of regional sports networks outside large markets?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The hostel's rapid turnover of new migrants left the children reeling, and Nour haunted.

Read more on BBC

Now, the scientific establishment is reeling from the loss of a great scientist.

Read more on BBC

Each one of the 73 birds in the running this year had a volunteer campaign manager, who sought to win over voters with memes, reels and hand-drawn posters.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• falter 
• lurch 
• shake 
• stagger 
• stumble 
• teeter