reel

1
[ reel ]
See synonyms for: reelreeledreeling on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. 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.

  2. a quantity of something wound on a reel.

  3. 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.

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

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

Idioms about reel

  1. off the reel, : Also right off the reel.

Origin of reel

1
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

Other words from reel

  • reel·a·ble, adjective

Words Nearby reel

Other definitions for reel (2 of 3)

reel2
[ 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.

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

  2. to turn round and round; whirl.

  3. 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!

  4. 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.

Origin of reel

2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English relen, apparently derivative of rele “rod, reel” (see reel1)

synonym study For reel

3. See stagger.

Other definitions for reel (3 of 3)

reel3
[ reel ]

noun
  1. a lively Scottish dance.

  1. music for either of these dances.

Origin of reel

3
First recorded in 1575–85; special use of reel2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use reel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reel (1 of 3)

reel1

/ (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 equivalent: spool

  2. angling a device for winding, casting, etc, consisting of a revolving spool with a handle, attached to a fishing rod

  1. a roll of celluloid exhibiting a sequence of photographs to be projected

verb(tr)
  1. to wind (cotton, thread, etc) onto a reel

  2. (foll by in, out etc) to wind or draw with a reel: to reel in a fish

Origin of reel

1
Old English hrēol; related to Old Norse hrǣll weaver's rod, Greek krekein to weave

Derived forms of reel

  • reelable, adjective
  • reeler, noun

British Dictionary definitions for reel (2 of 3)

reel2

/ (riːl, rɪəl) /


verb(mainly intr)
  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

Origin of reel

2
C14 relen, probably from reel 1

British Dictionary definitions for reel (3 of 3)

reel3

/ (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

Origin of reel

3
C18: from reel ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012