spell

1
[ spel ]
See synonyms for: spellspellingspelt on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),spelled or spelt, spell·ing.
  1. to name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.): Did I spell your name right?

  2. (of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.): The letters spelled a rather rude word.

  1. to read letter by letter or with difficulty (often followed by out): She painfully spelled out the message.

  2. to discern or find, as if by reading or study (often followed by out).

  3. to signify; amount to: This delay spells disaster for us.

verb (used without object),spelled or spelt, spell·ing.
  1. to name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc.: He spells poorly.

  2. to express words by letters, especially correctly.

Verb Phrases
  1. spell down, to outspell others in a spelling match.

  2. spell out,

    • to explain something explicitly, so that the meaning is unmistakable: Must I spell it out for you?

    • to write out in full or enumerate the letters of which a word is composed: The title “Ph.D.” is seldom spelled out.

Origin of spell

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English spel(l)en “to mean, signify,” from Old French espeller, espelir, from Germanic; compare Old English spellian “to talk, converse, announce” (derivative of spell “magic charm”); akin to Old High German -spellōn, Old Norse spjall “saying, tale,” Gothic spillōn “to narrate”; see origin at spell2

Other words for spell

Other words from spell

  • spell·a·ble, adjective
  • un·spell·a·ble, adjective

Words Nearby spell

Other definitions for spell (2 of 3)

spell2
[ spel ]

noun
  1. a word, phrase, or form of words supposed to have magic power; charm; incantation: The wizard cast a spell.

  2. a state or period of enchantment: She was under a spell.

  1. any dominating or irresistible influence; fascination: the spell of fine music.

Origin of spell

2
First recorded before 900; Middle English spel “story, tale, narrative,” Old English; cognate with Old High German spel, Old Norse spjall “saying, tale,” Gothic spill “fable, story”; see spell1, gospel

Other words from spell

  • spellful, adjective
  • spell-like, adjective

Other definitions for spell (3 of 3)

spell3
[ spel ]

noun
  1. a continuous course or period of work or other activity: to take a spell at the wheel.

  2. a turn of work so taken.

  1. a turn, bout, fit, or period of anything experienced or occurring: a spell of coughing.

  2. an indefinite interval or space of time: Come visit us for a spell.

  3. a period of weather of a specified kind: a hot spell.

  4. Australian. a rest period.

  5. Archaic. a person or set of persons taking a turn of work to relieve another.

verb (used with object)
  1. to take the place of for a time; relieve: Let me spell you at the wheel.

  2. Australian. to declare or give a rest period to.

verb (used without object)
  1. Australian. to have or take a rest period.

Origin of spell

3
First recorded in 1585–95; (verb) alteration of earlier spel(l)e “to stand in place of, relieve, spare,” Middle English spelen, Old English spelian; akin to Old English spelian “to stand in place of, represent”; spala, gespelia “a substitute”; the noun is derivative of the verb

Other words for spell

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spell in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spell (1 of 3)

spell1

/ (spɛl) /


verbspells, spelling, spelt or spelled
  1. to write or name in correct order the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)

  2. (tr) (of letters) to go to make up the conventionally established form of (a word) when arranged correctly: d-o-g spells dog

  1. (tr) to indicate or signify: such actions spell disaster for our cause

Origin of spell

1
C13: from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse spialla to talk, Middle High German spellen

Derived forms of spell

  • spellable, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for spell (2 of 3)

spell2

/ (spɛl) /


noun
  1. a verbal formula considered as having magical force

  2. any influence that can control the mind or character; fascination

  1. a state induced by or as if by the pronouncing of a spell; trance: to break the spell

  2. under a spell held in or as if in a spell

verb
  1. (tr) rare to place under a spell

Origin of spell

2
Old English spell speech; related to Old Norse spjall tale, Gothic spill, Old High German spel

British Dictionary definitions for spell (3 of 3)

spell3

/ (spɛl) /


noun
  1. an indeterminate, usually short, period of time: a spell of cold weather

  2. a period or tour of duty after which one person or group relieves another

  1. Scot, Australian and NZ a period or interval of rest

verb
  1. (tr) to take over from (a person) for an interval of time; relieve temporarily

  2. spell a paddock NZ to give a field a rest period by letting it lie fallow

Origin of spell

3
Old English spelian to take the place of, of obscure origin

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with spell

spell

In addition to the idiom beginning with spell

  • spell out

also see:

  • cold snap (spell)
  • under someone's spell

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.