transcription, транскрипция: [ spel ]
( spells, spelling, spelled, spelt)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
Note: American English uses the form 'spelled' as the past tense and past participle. British English uses either 'spelled' or 'spelt'.
1.
When you spell a word, you write or speak each letter in the word in the correct order.
He gave his name and then helpfully spelt it...
How do you spell ‘potato’?...
‘Tang’ is ‘Gnat’ spelt backwards.
VERB : V n , V n , V-ed
•
Spell out means the same as spell .
If I don’t know a word, I ask them to spell it out for me...
I never have to spell out my first name.
PHRASAL VERB : V n P , V P n (not pron)
2.
Someone who can spell knows the correct order of letters in words.
It’s shocking how students can’t spell these days...
You accused me of inaccuracy yet you can’t spell ‘Middlesex’.
VERB : no cont , V , V n
3.
If something spells a particular result, often an unpleasant one, it suggests that this will be the result.
If the irrigation plan goes ahead, it could spell disaster for the birds...
VERB : no cont , V n
4.
A spell of a particular type of weather or a particular activity is a short period of time during which this type of weather or activity occurs.
There has been a long spell of dry weather...
You join a barrister for two six-month spells of practical experience.
= period
N-COUNT : usu N of n
5.
A spell is a situation in which events are controlled by a magical power.
They say she died after a witch cast a spell on her.
...the kiss that will break the spell.
N-COUNT
6.
see also spelling