reel off

reel ¹  (rl)

n.

1. A device, such as a cylinder, spool, or frame, that turns on an axis and is used for winding and storing rope, tape, film, or other flexible materials.

2. A cylindrical device attached to a fishing rod to let out or wind up the line.

3. The quantity of wire, film, or other material wound on one reel.

4. A set of curved lawn-mower blades that rotate around a bar parallel to the ground, cutting grass while moving against a stationary straight blade.

tr.v. reeled, reel·ing, reels

1. To wind on or let out from a reel.

2. To recover by winding on a reel: reel in a large fish.

Phrasal Verb:

reel off

To recite fluently and usually at length: reeled off a long list of names and dates.

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[Middle English, from Old English hrol.]

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reela·ble adj.

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reel ²  (rl)

v. reeled, reel·ing, reels

v.intr.

1. To be thrown off balance or fall back: reeled from the sharp blow.

2. To stagger, lurch, or sway, as from drunkenness: reeled down the alley.

3. To go round and round in a whirling motion: gulls reeling and diving.

4. To feel dizzy: My head reeled with the facts and figures.

v.tr.

To cause to reel.

n.

1. A staggering, swaying, or whirling movement.

2.

a. A moderately fast dance of Scottish origin.

b. The Virginia reel.

c. The music for one of these dances.

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[Middle English relen, to whirl about, probably from reel, spool; see reel¹.]

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reeler n.

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reel ³  (rl)

n. Maine

A hand-held hammer used in a quarry for shaping granite blocks. See Regional Note at reeling.

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[Origin unknown.]

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reel off

vb

(tr, adverb) to recite or write fluently and without apparent effort to reel off items on a list

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	reel off - unwind from or as if from a reel; "unreel the tape" unreel reel - wind onto or off a reel
	2.	reel off - recite volubly or extravagantly; "He could recite the names of all the chemical elements" rattle down, rattle off, roll off, spiel off recite - repeat aloud from memory; "she recited a poem"; "The pupil recited his lesson for the day"

Translations

? reel off

vt sep list → herunterrasseln (inf); names also → herunterspulen (inf); (monotonously) → herunterleiern (inf); thread → abwickeln, abspulen