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

The men cutting the reel aren’t satisfied because they can’t figure out why Kane’s last word was “Rosebud,” and they send a reporter to go figure it out by interviewing Kane’s former friends and associates.

From Vox

I compile a highlights reel featuring the moments in my life I hold most dear.

From Washington Post

Much like the early-pandemic hit The Last Dance, about Michael Jordan’s run with the Chicago Bulls, Rising Phoenix appeals as a nonstop highlight reel.

From Outside Online

If you’re new to fishing, you can find inexpensive spinning rod combos, which come with both the rod and reel and are easy for beginners to use.

From Outside Online

Like the TikTok “For You Page,” the emphasis of Reels is to discover new content and users — including those owned by businesses — can opt to share their reel with the wider Instagram audience.

From Digiday

Boyhood is like watching a twelve season television series reduced to a three-hour highlight reel.

From The Daily Beast

No one was harmed during the filming, but judging by the blooper reel at the end, there were a lot of respawns.

From The Daily Beast

On March 26, Bieber debuted one of the greatest hits on his scandal reel.

From The Daily Beast

It is, on the other hand, a sizzle reel of quotable dialogue.

From The Daily Beast

Reel retraces his life and work with the spirit of curiosity and adventure that drove du Chaillu in the first place.

From The Daily Beast

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.

From Project Gutenberg

The carnage was awful, and the charging columns halted, staggered, and then began to reel back.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Lawrence saw one of his men reel and then fall forward, clutching his horse's neck.

From Project Gutenberg

The finished product is delivered to a belt-driven coiling reel on which it is wound.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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