spell out

spell ¹

 (spĕl)

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

v.tr.

1. To name or write in order the letters constituting (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 name or write in order the letters of a word or words: I've never been able to spell very well.

Phrasal Verbs:

spell down

To defeat in a spelling bee.

spell out

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

2. To name or write in order the letters that constitute (a word or part of a word): spelled out my name.

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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

 (spĕl)

n.

1.

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

b. A bewitched state or trance: The sorcerer put the prince under a spell.

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 ³

 (spĕl)

n.

1. A short, indefinite period of time.

2. Informal A period of weather of a particular kind: a dry spell.

3.

a. One's turn at work.

b. A period of work; a shift.

4. Australian A period of rest.

5. Informal A period of physical or mental disorder or distress: a dizzy spell.

6. Informal A short distance.

v. spelled, spell·ing, spells

v.tr.

1. To relieve (someone) from work temporarily by taking a turn.

2. To allow (someone) to rest a while.

v.intr.

1. To take turns working.

2. Australian To rest for a time from an activity.

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[From Middle English spelen, to spare, from Old English spelian, to represent, substitute for.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

spell out

vb (tr, adverb)

1. to make clear, distinct, or explicit; clarify in detail: let me spell out the implications.

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

3. to discern by study; puzzle out

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

spell ¹

verb

To have or convey a particular idea:

connote, denote, import, intend, mean, signify.

Idiom: add up to.

phrasal verb
spell out

To make understandable:

construe, decipher, explain, explicate, expound, interpret.

Archaic: enucleate.

Idiom: put into plain English.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

w>spell out

vt sep (= spell aloud) → buchstabieren; (= read slowly) → entziffern; (= explain) → verdeutlichen, klarmachen; to spell something out for somebody → jdm etw klarmachen; he needs everything spelled out to him → man muss ihm alles überdeutlich machen; do I have to spell it out for you? (inf) → muss ich noch deutlicher werden?

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007