reel
1
[ reel ]
/ ril /
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.
Idioms for reel
- without pause; continuously.
- without delay or hesitation; immediately.
off the reel,
Origin of reel
1
before 1050; (noun) Middle English
rele, Old English
hrēol; cognate with Old Norse
hræll weaver's rod; (v.) Middle English
relen, derivative of
rele
OTHER WORDS FROM reel
reel·a·ble, adjectiveWords nearby reel
reefer,
reeffish,
reefing,
reefing jacket,
reek,
reel,
reel man,
reel of three,
reel off,
reel-fed,
reel-to-reel
Definition for reeling (2 of 2)
reel
2
[ 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
2Example sentences from the Web for reeling
British Dictionary definitions for reeling (1 of 3)
reel
1
/ (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 wound
US 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 reel
to reel in a fish
Derived forms of reel
reelable, adjective reeler, nounWord Origin for reel
Old English
hrēol; related to Old Norse
hrǣll weaver's rod, Greek
krekein to weave
British Dictionary definitions for reeling (2 of 3)
reel
2
/ (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 about
his brain reeled
noun
a staggering or swaying motion or sensation
Word Origin for reel
C14
relen, probably from
reel
1
British Dictionary definitions for reeling (3 of 3)
reel
3
/ (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