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peal

Pronunciation: /piːl/

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Definition of peal

noun

1a loud ringing of a bell or bells: the bell rang again, a long, loud peal
Bell-ringing a series of changes (strictly, at least five thousand) rung on a set of bells.
a set of bells.

2a loud repeated or reverberating sound of thunder or laughter: Ross burst into peals of laughter

verb

[no object]

(of a bell or bells) ring loudly or in a peal:all the bells of the city began to peal
(of laughter or thunder) sound in a peal: Aunt Edie’s laughter pealed around the parlour
[with object] convey by the ringing of bells:the carillon pealed out the news to the waiting city

Origin:

late Middle English: shortening of appeal

Do not confuse peal and peel. Peal means 'ring loudly' (all the bells began to peal) or 'a loud ringing sound', whereas peel means 'remove the skin from a fruit or vegetable' (slice and peel two apples) or 'the skin of a fruit or vegetable'.

peal in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of peal in the US English dictionary

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