spelldown

[ spel-doun ]
/ ˈspɛlˌdaʊn /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR spelldown ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a spelling competition that begins with all the contestants standing and that ends when all but one, the winner, have been required to sit down due to a specified number of misspellings.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of spelldown

1940–45, Americanism; from phrase spell down to outspell others in a spelling match

Words nearby spelldown

spell-check, spellbind, spellbinder, spellbound, spellchecker, spelldown, speller, speller-divider, spellican, spelling, spelling bee
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020