reel

[ reel ]

/ ril /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR reel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a cylinder, frame, or other device that turns on an axis and is used to wind up or pay out something.

a rotatory device attached to a fishing rod at the butt, for winding up or letting out the line.

Photography.

a spool on which film, especially motion-picture film, is wound.
a roll of motion-picture film.
a holder for roll film in a developing tank.

a quantity of something wound on a reel.

Chiefly British. a spool of sewing thread; a roller or bobbin of sewing thread.

verb (used with object)

to wind on a reel, as thread, yarn, etc.

to unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon.

to pull or draw by winding a line on a reel: to reel a fish in.

Verb Phrases

reel off, to say, write, or produce quickly and easily: The old sailor reeled off one story after another.

Idioms for reel

off the reel,

without pause; continuously.
without delay or hesitation; immediately.

Also right off the reel.

Origin of reel

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, adjective

Words 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)

to sway or rock under a blow, shock, etc.: The boxer reeled and fell.

to waver or fall back: The troops reeled and then ran.

to sway about in standing or walking, as from dizziness, intoxication, etc.; stagger.

to turn round and round; whirl.

to have a sensation of whirling: His brain reeled.

verb (used with object)

to cause to reel.

noun

an act of reeling; a reeling or staggering movement.

Origin of reel

1300–50; Middle English relen, apparently derivative of rele reel¹

SYNONYMS FOR reel

3 See stagger.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR reel ON THESAURUS.COM

Example sentences from the Web for reeling

Reeling from regional developments and disillusioned with the West, some Iraqi Christians are looking to Russia for support.

Iraq’s Christians See Putin As Savior |Peter Schwartzstein |June 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The environmental community, reeling from the failure of cap and trade, needed a fight around which to coalesce.

Keystone Pipeline Is D.C.’s Dumbest Debate |Claire Casey |May 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They died in a storm, and Bradey reached Kathmandu reeling from grief.

Breaking Mount Everest’s Glass Ceiling |Amanda Padoan, Peter Zuckerman |March 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Until recently, however, it was Turkish Circassians who were reeling from state-sponsored persecution.

The Lost Tribe Of Sochi |Peter Schwartzstein |February 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The drug- and alcohol-fueled excesses build to a dizzying climax that leaves you reeling.

The Movie ‘Filth’ Is Fun! |Nico Hines |October 1, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
The drinking-saloons were full to overflowing; the side-walks thronged with reeling groups as the day advanced.

Macaria |Augusta Jane Evans Wilson
Reeling like a drunken man, he followed in the wake of the disappearing procession, until he fell.

Cupid in Africa |P. C. Wren
Some time he stood there, reeling, yet resisting her efforts to draw him to a seat.

Trumpeter Fred |Charles King
Deep seemed the valleys when we lay between the reeling seas.

South! |Sir Ernest Shackleton
It was a glancing blow, but it was enough to daze the man and send him reeling backward.

Motor Matt's "Century" Run |Stanley R. Matthews

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, noun

Word 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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

reel

noun

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

Idioms for reel

Origin of reel

OTHER WORDS FROM reel

Words nearby reel

Definition for reeling (2 of 2)

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of reel

SYNONYMS FOR reel

Example sentences from the Web for reeling

British Dictionary definitions for reeling (1 of 3)

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of reel

Word Origin for reel

British Dictionary definitions for reeling (2 of 3)

verb (mainly intr)

noun

Word Origin for reel

British Dictionary definitions for reeling (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for reel

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

reel

noun

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

Idioms for reel

Origin of reel

OTHER WORDS FROM reel

Words nearby reel

Definition for reeling (2 of 2)

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of reel

SYNONYMS FOR reel

Words related to reeling

Example sentences from the Web for reeling

British Dictionary definitions for reeling (1 of 3)

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of reel

Word Origin for reel

British Dictionary definitions for reeling (2 of 3)

verb (mainly intr)

noun

Word Origin for reel

British Dictionary definitions for reeling (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for reel