reel Hear it!

reel¹ Definition

reel (rēl)

intransitive verb

  1. to give way or fall back; sway, waver, or stagger as from being struck
  2. to lurch or stagger about, as from drunkenness or dizziness
  3. to go around and around; whirl
  4. to feel dizzy; have a sensation of spinning or whirling

Etymology: ME relen < the n.: from the sensation of whirling

transitive verb

to cause to reel

noun

a reeling motion; whirl, stagger, etc.

Etymology: ME rele < OE hreol: see reel

reel² Definition

reel (rēl)

noun

    1. a lively Scottish dance
    2. Virginia reel
  2. music for either of these

Etymology: prob. < reel, n.

reel³ Definition

reel (rēl)

noun

  1. a frame or spool on which thread, wire, tape, film, a net, etc. is wound
  2. such a frame set on the handle of a fishing rod, to wind up or let out the line
  3. the quantity of wire, thread, film, tape, etc. usually wound on one reel
  4. in some lawn mowers, a set of spiral steel blades rotating on a horizontal bar set between wheels

Etymology: ME < OE hreol < Gmc *hrehulaz < IE base *krek-, to strike, make a weaving motion > Gr krekein, to weave, Latvian krekls, shirt

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to wind on a reel

  • reelect
  • reelection
  • reembark
  • reembody
  • reembrace
  • reemerge
  • reemergence
  • reemphasis
  • reemphasize
  • reemploy
  • reenact
  • reenactment
  • reendow
reel³ Idioms

reel in

  1. to wind on a reel
  2. to pull in (a fish) by winding a line on a reel

reel off

to tell, write, produce, etc. easily and quickly

reel out

to unwind from a reel

(right) off the reel

☆

without hesitation or pause

reel Synonyms

reel

n.

spool, bobbin, windlass, spindle, wheel, wound strip, roll of film.

reel Synonyms

reel

v.

sway, stagger, lurch, weave, feel dizzy, feel giddy, bob, waver, flounder, walk drunkenly, totter, stumble, careen, pitch, roll, whirl, spin, rock, falter, fall back.

reel Usage Examples

Object

  • recorder: Poor Mini Circa late 1960s - Portable reel to reel tape recorder.

Converse of object

  • accomodate: Padded reel pouches large enough to accomodate big pit reels, with padded flap between rods for added protection.
  • spin: The machine then says ' This sounds like a jackpot ' and flash's and spins the reels playing some stupid music.

Adjective modifier

  • spinning: Town on illinois route five spinning reels have to settle the market is.
  • Scotch: Mr Gage and Mr Gibson both sang again, and then Mr Mackenzie played some Scotch reels in splendid style.

Modifies a noun

  • pouch: Padded reel pouch is large enough to take a big pit reel.
  • jet: The incident was near to bridge number 8. Eighty gallons of diesel were on board and 2 hose reel jets were used.
  • spool: The knot to use to attach the backing to the reel spool is the arbor knot ( see illustration ).
  • seat: The reel seat is a screw winch fitting made of very strong carbon construction.
  • fitting: There is also a picture of the new reel fittings available.
  • slot: Las Vegas Dreams Slots Game Launched ( March 2006 ) Jackpotjoy have launched a brand new 5 reel slots game called Las Vegas Dreams.

Noun used with modifier

  • hose: BA team with hose reel enter ground floor to continue fire fighting.
  • blooper: A good selection of extras too - three featurettes, two commentary tracks, a ' word vomit ' blooper reel.
  • spod: Many carp anglers will adopt the KS Powerplay as their first choice spod reel.
  • spool: Distance is super soft, super smooth and equally effective and user friendly if used on a multiplier or fixed spool reel.
  • inertia: Lap belt, inertia reel belt or fixed harness with two shoulder straps.
  • eightsome: Sinclair played a fast eightsome reel which had us in a whirl.

Infinitive complement

  • extinguish: Firefighters used 4 Breathing Apparatus and 2 hose reels to extinguish the blaze but the terrace house suffered 100 % damage.

Preposition: of

  • microfilm: In 1994/95 we installed a new microfilm store capable of holding 400,000 reels of positive microfilm.

Preposition: from

  • shock: India is still reeling from the shock of the massive explosion that shook the country's commercial capital.
reel Quotes

I played the young Earl of Dudleyand was beheaded in the third reelönot, in my opinion, a moment too soon.

—Mills, SirJohn Lewis Ernest Watts

The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. Song of Solomon

—Bible (Old Testament)

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits'end.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Headstones stagger under great draughts of time after heads pass out, and their world must reel speechless, blind in the end about its chilling star

—Berryman,John originally John Allyn Smith

Browse dictionary entries near reel

  1. ‹ reek
  2. ‹ reefer
  3. ‹ reef knot
  4. ‹ reef
  5. ‹ reedy
  6. ‹ reeducate
  7. ‹ reedman
  8. ‹ reeding
  9. ‹ reedbuck
  10. ‹ reedbird
  1. reel off ›
  2. reel-to-reel ›
  3. reenforce ›
  4. reenter ›
  5. reentrant ›
  6. reentrant angle ›
  7. reentry ›
  8. reestablish ›
  9. reeve ›
  10. reexamination ›