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reel
1[ reel ]
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 phrase
- to say, write, or produce quickly and easily:
The old sailor reeled off one story after another.
reel
2[ reel ]
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:
By the time we reached camp, my mind was reeling—there were so many incredible sights to take in!
- 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)
- to cause to reel.
noun
- an act of reeling; a reeling or staggering movement.
reel
3[ reel ]
noun
- a lively Scottish dance.
- music for either of these dances.
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 equivalentspool
- 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
- to wind (cotton, thread, etc) onto a reel
- foll byin, out etc to wind or draw with a reel
to reel in a fish
reel
2/ riːl; rɪəl /
verb
- 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
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
Derived Forms
- ˈreelable, adjective
- ˈreeler, noun
Other Words From
- reela·ble adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of reel1
Word History and Origins
Origin of reel1
Origin of reel2
Origin of reel3
Idioms and Phrases
- off the reel, Also right off the reel.
- without pause; continuously.
- without delay or hesitation; immediately.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Boyhood is like watching a twelve season television series reduced to a three-hour highlight reel.
No one was harmed during the filming, but judging by the blooper reel at the end, there were a lot of respawns.
On March 26, Bieber debuted one of the greatest hits on his scandal reel.
It is, on the other hand, a sizzle reel of quotable dialogue.
Reel retraces his life and work with the spirit of curiosity and adventure that drove du Chaillu in the first place.
I've always hed a reel mean feelin' about 'em; I didn't want ter come nigh 'em, nor ter hev 'em come nigh me.
The carnage was awful, and the charging columns halted, staggered, and then began to reel back.
A drunken man would reel from one side to the other until he fell down a cellar trap-door, into the gutter, or into the sea.
Lawrence saw one of his men reel and then fall forward, clutching his horse's neck.
The finished product is delivered to a belt-driven coiling reel on which it is wound.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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