26984 words

spell

11 definitions • 21 examples
1
to form a word or words with the letters in the correct order:

Examples:

How do you spell receive?
Shakespeare did not always spell his own name the same way.
spell something (out) Our address is 1520 Main Street, Albuquerque. Shall I spell that (out) (= say in the correct order the letters that form the word) for you?
I think it's important that children should be taught to spell.
2
to cause something bad to happen in the future:

Examples:

The new regulations could spell disaster for small businesses.
3
to do something that someone else would usually be doing, especially in order to allow them to rest:

Examples:

You've been driving for a while - do you want me to spell you?
4
a period of time for which an activity or condition lasts continuously:

Examples:

for a spell I lived in Cairo for a spell.
have a spell as She had a brief spell as captain of the team.
dizzy spell I keep having/getting dizzy spells (= periods of feeling as if I'm turning around).
5

Examples:

a spell of dry weather
6
a period when you do something that someone else would usually be doing, especially in order to allow them to rest:

Examples:

spells (with) If we take spells (with) doing the painting, it won't seem like such hard work.
7
spoken words that are thought to have magical power, or (the condition of being under) the influence or control of such words:

Examples:

cast/put a spell on The witch cast/put a spell on the prince and he turned into a frog.
break the spell A beautiful girl would have to kiss him to break (= stop) the spell.
under a spell Sleeping Beauty lay under the wicked fairy's spell until the prince woke her with a kiss.
8
to form a word or words with the letters in the correct order:

Examples:

[ I ] As a child he never learned to spell.
[ T ] Send it to Dr. Mikolajczyk – I’ll spell that name for you (= say the letters that form the word).
9
to have usually something unpleasant as a result:

Examples:

This cold weather could spell trouble for gardeners.
10
a period of time during which an activity or condition lasts:

Examples:

a spell of wet weather
She lived in London for a short spell in the 1980s.
11
a magic power produced by speaking a set of words or taking a specific set of actions:

Examples:

He was placed under a spell that could be broken only when the princess kissed him.

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