peal

[ peel ]

noun

1. a loud, prolonged ringing of bells.
2. a set of bells tuned to one another.
3. a series of changes rung on a set of bells.
4. any loud, sustained sound or series of sounds, as of cannon, thunder, applause, or laughter.

   Synonyms: clangor, resounding, reverberation

verb (used with object)

1. to sound loudly and sonorously:

   to peal the bells of a tower.

2. Obsolete. to assail with loud sounds.

verb (used without object)

1. to sound forth in a peal; resound.

peal

¹

/ piːl /

noun

1. a loud prolonged usually reverberating sound, as of bells, thunder, or laughter
2. Leisure:Bell-ringing a series of changes rung in accordance with specific rules, consisting of not fewer than 5000 permutations in a ring of eight bells
3. not in technical usage the set of bells in a belfry

verb

1. intr to sound with a peal or peals
2. tr to give forth loudly and sonorously
3. tr to ring (bells) in peals

peal

²

/ piːl /

noun

1. a dialect name for a grilse or a young sea trout

Other Words From

• inter·peal verb (used with object)
• un·pealed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peal¹

1350–1400; Middle English pele, akin to peal to beat, strike (now dial.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of peal¹

C14 pele, variant of apele appeal

Example Sentences

Dressed in a stunning wash of brightly colored patterns with a thick string of peals, large hoop earrings and white fishnet stockings, Von Furstenberg radiates an effortless glamour.

From Los Angeles Times

“We cheered and cheered again and again, while church bells rang out in a peal of jubilation.”

From Literature

The trickle of music played, then peals of laughter.

From Literature

The three of them looked at each other and broke into peals of laughter.

From Literature

Minutes later, more explosions peal through the air, as the Israeli military responds to the source of the fire.

From Los Angeles Times