/ spel; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( spelt , spelt / spelt; NAmE /) or ( spelled , spelled )
1.
[ vn ] to say or write the letters of a word in the correct order :
How do you spell your surname?
I thought her name was Catherine, but it's Kathryn spelt with a 'K'.
2.
to form words correctly from individual letters :
[ v ]
I've never been able to spell.
[ vn - adj ]
You've spelt my name wrong.
—see also misspell
3.
[ vn ] ( of letters of a word ) to form words when they are put together in a particular order :
C—A—T spells 'cat'.
4.
[ vn ] spell sth (for sb/sth) to have sth, usually sth bad, as a result; to mean sth, usually sth bad :
The crop failure spelt disaster for many farmers.
5.
[ vn ] ( NAmE , informal ) to replace for a short time sb who is doing a particular activity so that they can rest :
Carter will be here in an hour to spell you.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- spell sth out
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a short period of time during which sth lasts :
a spell of warm weather
a cold / hot / wet / bright, etc. spell
There will be rain at first, with sunny spells later.
She went to the doctor complaining of dizzy spells .
2.
[ C ] a period of time doing sth or working somewhere :
She had a spell as a singer before becoming an actress.
I spent a brief spell on the Washington Post.
3.
[ C ] words that are thought to have magic power or to make a piece of magic work; a piece of magic that happens when sb says these magic words :
a magic spell
a book of spells
The wizard recited a spell.
to cast / put a spell on sb
to be under a spell (= affected by magic)
4.
[ sing. ] a quality that a person or thing has that makes them so attractive or interesting that they have a strong influence on you
SYN charm :
I completely fell under her spell .
•
IDIOMS
see weave verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb Middle English : shortening of Old French espeller , from the Germanic base of spell (noun senses 3 and 4).
noun senses 3 to 4 Old English spel(l) narration , of Germanic origin.
noun senses 1 to 2 late 16th cent.: variant of dialect spele take the place of , of unknown origin. The early sense of the noun was shift of relief workers .