Link Centre Dictionary

reel

UK/ˈɹiːl/ US/ˈɹʷɪi̯l/ fairly common
noun (6) verb (3)

noun

1.
2.
3.

winder consisting of a revolving spool with a handle; attached to a fishing rod

4.

a winder around which thread or tape or film or other flexible materials can be wound

Synonyms
5.

a lively dance of Scottish highlanders; marked by circular moves and gliding steps

Synonyms
6.

an American country dance which starts with the couples facing each other in two lines

Synonyms

verb

1.

walk as if unable to control one''s movements

  • “The drunken man staggered into the room”
Synonyms
2.

revolve quickly and repeatedly around one''s own axis

  • “The dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy”
Synonyms
3.

wind onto or off a reel

Origin

From Middle English reel, reele, from Old English rēol, hrēol, from Proto-West Germanic *hrehul, from Proto-Germanic *hrehulaz, *hrahilaz, from Proto-Indo-European *krek- (“to weave, beat”). Cognate with Icelandic ræl, hræll.

Phrases

  • barley reel
  • blooper reel
  • cotton reel
  • demo reel
  • extension reel
  • foursome reel
  • gag reel
  • hose reel
  • reel in
  • reel off
  • reel out
  • reel up

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.