reel

¹

[ reel ]

noun

1. a cylinder, frame, or other device that turns on an axis and is used to wind up or pay out something.
2. a rotatory device attached to a fishing rod at the butt, for winding up or letting out the line.
3. Photography.
   1. a spool on which film, especially motion-picture film, is wound.
   2. a roll of motion-picture film.
   3. a holder for roll film in a developing tank.
4. a quantity of something wound on a reel.
5. Chiefly British. a spool of sewing thread; a roller or bobbin of sewing thread.

verb (used with object)

1. to wind on a reel, as thread, yarn, etc.
2. to unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon.
3. to pull or draw by winding a line on a reel:

   to reel a fish in.

verb phrase

1. to say, write, or produce quickly and easily:

   The old sailor reeled off one story after another.

reel

²

[ reel ]

verb (used without object)

1. to sway or rock under a blow, shock, etc.:

   The boxer reeled and fell.

2. to waver or fall back:

   The troops reeled and then ran.

3. to sway about in standing or walking, as from dizziness, intoxication, etc.; stagger.
4. to turn round and round; whirl.
5. to have a sensation of whirling:

   By the time we reached camp, my mind was reeling—there were so many incredible sights to take in!

6. to be in a state of shock, confusion, or disorder:

   The real-estate market is reeling from the compounding effects of oversupply, rising vacancy rates, and weak demand.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to reel.

noun

1. an act of reeling; a reeling or staggering movement.

reel

³

[ reel ]

noun

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

reel

¹

/ riːl; rɪəl /

noun

1. 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 equivalentspool
2. angling a device for winding, casting, etc, consisting of a revolving spool with a handle, attached to a fishing rod
3. a roll of celluloid exhibiting a sequence of photographs to be projected

verb

1. to wind (cotton, thread, etc) onto a reel
2. foll byin, out etc to wind or draw with a reel

   to reel in a fish

reel

²

/ riːl; rɪəl /

verb

1. to sway, esp under the shock of a blow or through dizziness or drunkenness
2. to whirl about or have the feeling of whirling about

   his brain reeled

noun

1. a staggering or swaying motion or sensation

reel

³

/ riːl; rɪəl /

noun

1. 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
2. a piece of music having eight quavers to the bar composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

Derived Forms

• ˈreelable, adjective
• ˈreeler, noun

Other Words From

• reela·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reel¹

First recorded before 1050; Middle English noun rel(e), Old English hrēol; rēol, cognate with Old Norse hræll “weaver's rod”; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of reel²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English relen, apparently derivative of rele “rod, reel” ( reel ¹ )

Origin of reel³

First recorded in 1575–85; special use of reel ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of reel¹

Old English hrēol ; related to Old Norse hrǣll weaver's rod, Greek krekein to weave

Origin of reel²

C14 relen , probably from reel ¹

Origin of reel³

C18: from reel ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. off the reel, Also right off the reel.
   1. without pause; continuously.
   2. without delay or hesitation; immediately.

Synonym Study

See stagger.

Example Sentences

Educators are reeling at McMahon’s appointment, fearing that she will have a detrimental impact on students across the country.

From Salon

The attacks have added to the humanitarian crisis in a region reeling from a years-long civil war and four years of extreme drought exacerbated by climate change.

From BBC

They too reeled off five games for the chance to serve for the match, and with it, a place in the final.

From BBC

The tandem accounted for three touchdowns in Sunday’s 28-22 victory at New England, reliably reeling in the pinpoint passes of Matthew Stafford.

From Los Angeles Times

Audition reel sketches are really just an excuse to let the cast trot out their best celebrity impressions, particularly Chloe Fineman, who figures heavily into this one for the movie adaptation of “Wicked.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• falter
• lurch
• shake
• stagger
• stumble
• teeter