peal

American  

[peel] / pil /

noun

1. a loud, prolonged ringing of bells.

2. a set of bells tuned to one another.

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

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

   Synonyms:

   clangor, resounding, reverberation

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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.

peal ¹ British  

/ piːl /

noun

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

2. Leisure: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

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

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verb

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

2. (tr) to give forth loudly and sonorously

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

peal ² British  

/ piːl /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• interpeal verb (used with object)
• unpealed adjective

Etymology

Origin of peal

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

Example Sentences

Smith’s $5,000 donation proved a savvy investment: He owns two brownstones in Brooklyn today, Lee notes, with a peal of laughter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Far from the subtlety required before a camera, her powerful voice and exaggerated gestures fill the space -- and draw peals of laughter.

From Barron's

Hours were marked by peals of screams following every uncovered worm wriggling in the corn silks, and each of us proudly showing off our inky fingertips from pressing out purple hull peas from their pods.

From Salon

Westminster Abbey's bells then pealed 80 times to remember the years since the first VE Day.

From BBC

Dressed in a stunning wash of brightly colored patterns with a thick string of peals, large hoop earrings and white fishnet stockings, Von Furstenberg radiates an effortless glamour.

From Los Angeles Times