Nearby words
Definition for spelt (2 of 4)
spelt
2[ spelt ]
/ spɛlt /
noun
one of the earliest cultivated forms of wheat, Triticum aestivum spelta, native to southern Europe and western Asia, used for livestock feed and as a grain for human consumption.
Origin of spelt
2before 1000; Middle English, Old English from Late Latin spelta, probably from Germanic; compare Old High German spelza (German Spelt)
Definition for spelt (3 of 4)
spell
1[ spel ]
/ spɛl /
verb (used with object), spelled or spelt, spell·ing.
verb (used without object), spelled or spelt, spell·ing.
to name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc.: He spells poorly.
to express words by letters, especially correctly.
Verb Phrases
spell down, to outspell others in a spelling match.
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
11250–1300; Middle English spellen < Old French espeller < Germanic; compare Old English spellian to talk, announce (derivative of spell spell2), Old High German -spellōn, Old Norse spjalla, Gothic spillōn
Related forms
spell·a·ble, adjectiveun·spell·a·ble, adjectiveDefinition for spelt (4 of 4)
spell
3[ spel ]
/ spɛl /
noun
verb (used with object)
to take the place of for a time; relieve: Let me spell you at the wheel.
Australian. to declare or give a rest period to.
verb (used without object)
Australian. to have or take a rest period.
Origin of spell
31585–95; (v.) alteration of earlier spele to stand instead of, relieve, spare, Middle English spelen, Old English spelian; akin to Old English spala, gespelia a substitute; (noun) akin to the v. (perhaps continuing Old English gespelia)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for spelt
British Dictionary definitions for spelt (1 of 5)
British Dictionary definitions for spelt (2 of 5)
spelt
2/ (spɛlt) /
noun
a species of wheat, Triticum spelta, that was formerly much cultivated and was used to develop present-day cultivated wheats
Word Origin for spelt
Old English; related to Old Saxon spelta, Old High German spelza
British Dictionary definitions for spelt (3 of 5)
spell
1/ (spɛl) /
verb spells, spelling, spelt or spelled
to write or name in correct order the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)
(tr) (of letters) to go to make up the conventionally established form of (a word) when arranged correctlyd-o-g spells dog
(tr) to indicate or signifysuch actions spell disaster for our cause
See also spell out
Derived Forms
spellable, adjectiveWord Origin for spell
C13: from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse spialla to talk, Middle High German spellen
British Dictionary definitions for spelt (4 of 5)
spell
2/ (spɛl) /
noun
a verbal formula considered as having magical force
any influence that can control the mind or character; fascination
a state induced by or as if by the pronouncing of a spell; tranceto break the spell
under a spell held in or as if in a spell
verb
(tr) rare to place under a spell
Word Origin for spell
Old English spell speech; related to Old Norse spjall tale, Gothic spill, Old High German spel
British Dictionary definitions for spelt (5 of 5)
spell
3/ (spɛl) /
noun
an indeterminate, usually short, period of timea spell of cold weather
a period or tour of duty after which one person or group relieves another
Scot, Australian and NZ a period or interval of rest
verb
(tr) to take over from (a person) for an interval of time; relieve temporarily
spell a paddock NZ to give a field a rest period by letting it lie fallow
Word Origin for spell
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
Idioms and Phrases with spelt
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.