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reel

1
[ reel ]
/ ril /
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See synonyms for: reel / reeled / reeling on Thesaurus.com

noun
verb (used with object)
Verb Phrases
reel off, to say, write, or produce quickly and easily: The old sailor reeled off one story after another.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Idioms about reel

    off the reel,
    1. without pause; continuously.
    2. without delay or hesitation; immediately.
    Also right off the reel.

Origin of reel

1
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

OTHER WORDS FROM reel

reel·a·ble, adjective

Other definitions for reel (2 of 3)

reel2
[ reel ]
/ ril /

verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
to cause to reel.
noun
an act of reeling; a reeling or staggering movement.

Origin of reel

2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English relen, apparently derivative of rele “rod, reel” (see reel1)

synonym study for reel

3. See stagger.

Other definitions for reel (3 of 3)

reel3
[ reel ]
/ ril /

noun
a lively Scottish dance.
music for either of these dances.

Origin of reel

3
First recorded in 1575–85; special use of reel2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use reel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reel (1 of 3)

reel1
/ (riːl, rɪəl) /

noun
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 woundUS equivalent: spool
angling a device for winding, casting, etc, consisting of a revolving spool with a handle, attached to a fishing rod
a roll of celluloid exhibiting a sequence of photographs to be projected
verb (tr)
to wind (cotton, thread, etc) onto a reel
(foll by in, out etc) to wind or draw with a reelto reel in a fish

Derived forms of reel

reelable, adjectivereeler, noun

Word Origin for reel

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

British Dictionary definitions for reel (2 of 3)

reel2
/ (riːl, rɪəl) /

verb (mainly intr)
to sway, esp under the shock of a blow or through dizziness or drunkenness
to whirl about or have the feeling of whirling abouthis brain reeled
noun
a staggering or swaying motion or sensation

Word Origin for reel

C14 relen, probably from reel 1

British Dictionary definitions for reel (3 of 3)

reel3
/ (riːl, rɪəl) /

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

Word Origin for reel

C18: from reel ²
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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