peal
a loud, prolonged ringing of bells.
a set of bells tuned to one another.
a series of changes rung on a set of bells.
any loud, sustained sound or series of sounds, as of cannon, thunder, applause, or laughter.
to sound loudly and sonorously: to peal the bells of a tower.
Obsolete. to assail with loud sounds.
to sound forth in a peal; resound.
Origin of peal
1Other words for peal
Other words from peal
- in·ter·peal, verb (used with object)
- un·pealed, adjective
Words that may be confused with peal
- peal , peel
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use peal in a sentence
Church bells pealed from St. Catherine of Siena parish one block away.
Buses, vans, and cars sounded their horns, gun salutes rang out, the bells of Westminster Abbey pealed, and everyone cheered.
Happy Birthday, Prince George! Will the Wee Royal Be the First King of the 22nd Century? | Emma Woolf | July 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs church bells pealed in Quebec City, the bishop of the colony received de Prouville at the entrance of the local church.
Kateri Tekakwitha: First Indigenous Saint's Story | Bill Donahue | December 23, 2011 | THE DAILY BEASTThe music pealed with wonderful sweetness; you could see the prim white heads of the nuns in their gallery.
Little Travels and Roadside Sketches | William Makepeace ThackerayWas it in the tented field With crash of sword on shield, While backward meaner champions reeled And loud the tom-tom pealed?
The Book of Humorous Verse | Various
Her laugh pealed back, and it thrilled Helen, so deep and strange was it for the wilful sister, so wild and merry and full of joy.
The Man of the Forest | Zane GreyThe voice of the great preacher pealed with a thrilling power to the outskirts of that mighty throng.
Introduction to the Science of Sociology | Robert E. ParkAnd the music pealed on like a grand triumphal march, and made the girl feel very proud and joyful.
Little Folks (November 1884) | Various
British Dictionary definitions for peal (1 of 2)
/ (piːl) /
a loud prolonged usually reverberating sound, as of bells, thunder, or laughter
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
(not in technical usage) the set of bells in a belfry
(intr) to sound with a peal or peals
(tr) to give forth loudly and sonorously
(tr) to ring (bells) in peals
Origin of peal
1British Dictionary definitions for peal (2 of 2)
/ (piːl) /
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
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