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