spell

spell is one of the 1000 most common headwords.

speed - spell - spend

Pronunciation

• enPR: spĕl, IPA ^(key): /spɛl/
• SAMPA: /spEl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form spell

Third-person singular spells

Past tense spelled

Past participle spelled

Present participle spelling

Plain form spell

Third-person singular spells

Past tense spelt

Past participle spelt

Present participle spelling

1. (of letters) To make up a word.

   C, A and T spell cat.

2. To say or write all the letters that make up a word, in the right order.

   Jack says: "Spell cat for me, Jill."

   Jill says: "C-A-T."

3. To spell all the words in a language correctly.

   Jack says: I thought cat was spelled K-A-T.

   Jill says: That is because you cannot spell very well.

Synonyms

• spell out

Related words

• parse

Noun

Singular spell

Plural spells

1. A spell is an amount of time.
   • Synonyms: period and time

   He stayed in his house for quite a spell.

2. What happens during an amount of time.

   We've had a bad spell of weather.

3. Words supposed to have a magical power, or the effect they are supposed to have.
   • Synonym: incantation

   He cast a spell on us.

   The witch cast an evil spell on the princess.