spell out

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.

---

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

---

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.

---

[Middle English, discourse, from Old English.]

---

spell out

Verb

1. to make (something) as easy to understand as possible: to spell out the implications

2. to read with difficulty, working out each word letter by letter

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	spell out - make explicit; specify in detail; "You should spell out your demands" particularise, particularize, specialise, specialize, specify - be specific about; "Could you please specify your criticism of my paper?"
	2.	spell out - spell fully and without abbreviating; "Can you spell out your middle name instead of just giving the initial?" spell, write - 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"
	3.	spell out - 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 misspell - spell incorrectly recite - repeat aloud from memory; "she recited a poem"; "The pupil recited his lesson for the day"