spell

spell ¹  (spl)

v. spelled or spelt (splt), spell·ing, spells

v.tr.

1. To name or write in order the letters constituting (a word or part of a word).

2. To constitute the letters of (a word): These letters spell animal.

3. To add up to; signify: Their unwise investment could spell financial ruin.

v.intr.

To form words by means of letters.

Phrasal Verbs:

spell down

To defeat in a spelling bee.

spell out

1. To make perfectly clear and understandable: asked him to spell out his objectives.

2. To read slowly and laboriously.

3. To puzzle out; comprehend by study.

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[Middle English spellen, to read letter by letter, from Old French espeller, of Germanic origin.]

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spell ²  (spl)

n.

1.

a. A word or formula believed to have magic power.

b. A bewitched state; a trance.

2. A compelling attraction; charm or fascination: the spell of the theater.

tr.v. spelled, spell·ing, spells

To put (someone) under a spell; bewitch.

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[Middle English, discourse, from Old English.]

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spell ¹

Verb

[spelling, spelt] or spelled

1. to write or name in correct order the letters that make up (a word): how do you spell that name?

2. (of letters) to make up (a word): c-a-t spells cat

3. to indicate (a particular result): share price slump spells disaster

See also spell out [Old French espeller]

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spell ²

Noun

1. a sequence of words used to perform magic

2. the effect of a spell: the wizard's spell was broken

3. under someone's spell fascinated by someone [Old English spell speech]

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spell ³

Noun

1. a period of time of weather or activity: the dry spell, a short spell in prison

2. a period of duty after which one person or group relieves another

3. Scot, Austral & NZ a period of rest [Old English spelian to take the place of]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	spell - a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation trance, enchantment mental condition, mental state, psychological condition, psychological state - (psychology) a mental condition in which the qualities of a state are relatively constant even though the state itself may be dynamic; "a manic state" possession - being controlled by passion or the supernatural captivation, fascination - the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror)
	2.	spell - a time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else); "it's my go"; "a spell of work" go, tour, turn duty period, work shift, shift - the time period during which you are at work
	3.	spell - a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition; "he was here for a little while"; "I need to rest for a piece"; "a spell of good weather"; "a patch of bad weather" while, patch, piece time - an indefinite period (usually marked by specific attributes or activities); "he waited a long time"; "the time of year for planting"; "he was a great actor in his time" cold snap, cold spell - a spell of cold weather hot spell - a spell of hot weather snap - a spell of cold weather; "a cold snap in the middle of May"
	4.	spell - a verbal formula believed to have magical force; "he whispered a spell as he moved his hands"; "inscribed around its base is a charm in Balinese" magic spell, magical spell, charm speech communication, spoken communication, spoken language, voice communication, oral communication, speech, language - (language) communication by word of mouth; "his speech was garbled"; "he uttered harsh language"; "he recorded the spoken language of the streets" conjuration, incantation - a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a magical effect hex, jinx, whammy, curse - an evil spell; "a witch put a curse on his whole family"; "he put the whammy on me"
Verb	1.	spell - 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" spell out misspell - spell incorrectly recite - repeat aloud from memory; "she recited a poem"; "The pupil recited his lesson for the day"
	2.	spell - indicate or signify; "I'm afraid this spells trouble!" import mean, intend - mean or intend to express or convey; "You never understand what I mean!"; "what do his words intend?"
	3.	spell - 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" write spell out - spell fully and without abbreviating; "Can you spell out your middle name instead of just giving the initial?" hyphen, hyphenate - divide or connect with a hyphen; "hyphenate these words and names"
	4.	spell - relieve (someone) from work by taking a turn; "She spelled her husband at the wheel" relieve, take over - free someone temporarily from his or her obligations
	5.	spell - place under a spell glamour, hex, jinx, witch, bewitch, enchant - cast a spell over someone or something; put a hex on someone or something unspell - release from a spell
	6.	spell - take turns working; "the workers spell every four hours" take turns, alternate - do something in turns; "We take turns on the night shift"

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spell ¹

verb indicate, mean, signify, suggest, promise, point to, imply, amount to, herald, augur, presage, portend

spell something out make clear or plain, specify, make explicit, clarify, elucidate, explicate

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spell ²

noun 1. incantation, charm, sorcery, exorcism, abracadabra, witchery, conjuration, makutu N.Z.

noun 2. enchantment, magic, fascination, glamour, allure, bewitchment

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spell ³

noun period, time, term, stretch, turn, course, season, patch, interval, bout, stint

Translations

spell [spɛl] n (also: magic spell) → encanto, hechizo (= period of time); rato, período (= turn); turno

vt [pt spelt or spelled, pp ] [spɛlt, spɛld] (also: spell out) → deletrear;

(fig) → anunciar, presagiar;

to cast a spell on sb → hechizar a algn;

he can't spell → no sabe escribir bien, comete faltas de ortografía;

can you spell it for me? → ¿cómo se deletrea or se escribe?;

how do you spell your name? → ¿cómo se escribe tu nombre?

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spell [spɛl] n (also: magic spell) → sortilège m, charme m (= period of time); (courte) période

vt [spelt or spelled , pt , pp ] [spɛlt, spɛld] (in writing) → écrire, orthographier;

(aloud) → épeler (fig); signifier;

to cast a spell on sb → jeter un sort à qn;

he can't spell → il fait des fautes d'orthographe;

how do you spell your name? → comment écrivez- vous votre nom?;

can you spell it for me? → pouvez-vous me l'épeler?

spell out vt (= explain);

to spell sth out for sb → expliquer qch clairement à qn

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spell [spɛl] [spelt ] (Brit) [spelled , pt, pp ] n (also: magic spell) → Zauber m;

(incantation) → Zauberspruch m;

(period of time) → Zeit f, Weile f

vt → schreiben;

(also: spell out) (aloud) → buchstabieren;

(signify) → bedeuten;

to cast a spell on sb → jdn verzaubern;

cold spell → Kältewelle f;

how do you spell your name? → wie schreibt sich Ihr Name?;

can you spell it for me? → können Sie das bitte buchstabieren?;

he can't spell → er kann keine Rechtschreibung

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spell [spɛl] n (also: magic spell) → incantesimo (= period of time); (breve) periodo

vt [pt spelt or spelled, pp ] [spɛlt, spɛld] (in writing) → scrivere (lettera per lettera);

(aloud) → dire lettera per lettera;

(fig) → significare;

to cast a spell on sb → fare un incantesimo a qn;

he can't spell → fa errori di ortografia;

how do you spell your name? → come si scrive il suo nome?;

can you spell it for me? → me lo può dettare lettera per lettera?