spell

Plural: spells

Noun

• a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
• a time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
  • "a spell of work"
• a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
  • "a spell of good weather"
• a verbal formula believed to have magical force
  • "he whispered a spell as he moved his hands"
• Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers.
• A magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula.
• Speech, discourse.
• A shift (of work); (rare) a set of workers responsible for a specific turn of labour.
• A definite period (of work or other activity).
• An indefinite period of time (usually with a qualifier); by extension, a relatively short distance.
• A period of rest; time off.
• A period of illness, or sudden interval of bad spirits, disease etc.
• An uninterrupted series of alternate overs bowled by a single bowler.
• A splinter, usually of wood; a spelk.
• The wooden bat in the game of trap ball, or knurr and spell.

Verb

Verb Forms: spelled, spelt, spelling, spells

• To name or write the letters that form a word.
• orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
  • "How do you spell this word?"
  • "We had to spell out our names for the police officer"
• indicate or signify
  • "I'm afraid this spells trouble!"
• write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)
  • "He spelled the word wrong in this letter"
• relieve (someone) from work by taking a turn
  • "She spelled her husband at the wheel"
• place under a spell
• take turns working
  • "the workers spell every four hours"
• To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.
• To write or say the letters that form a word or part of a word.
• To read (something) as though letter by letter; to peruse slowly or with effort.
• Of letters: to compose (a word).
• To clarify; to explain in detail.
• To indicate that (some event) will occur; typically followed by a single-word noun.
• To constitute; to measure.
• To speak, to declaim.
• To tell; to relate; to teach.
• To work in place of (someone).
• To rest (someone or something), to give someone or something a rest or break.
• To rest from work for a time.

Examples

• Always double-check how to spell words, especially when playing for high stakes.
• He cast a spell to cure warts.
• I find it difficult to spell because I'm dyslexic.
• Please spell it out for me.
• The letters “a”, “n” and “d” spell “and”.
• They spelled the horses and rested in the shade of some trees near a brook.
• This spells trouble.
• under a spell

Synonyms

charm, enchantment, go, import, magic spell, magical spell, patch, piece, spell out, tour, trance, turn, while, write, cantrip, comprise, forebode, incantation, mean, signify

Antonyms

unspell

Anagrams of spell