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spell1

Pronunciation: /spɛl/

Translate spell | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of spell

verb (past and past participle spelled or chiefly British spelt)

[with object]
  • 1write or name the letters that form (a word) in correct sequence:Dolly spelled her name [no object]:journals have a house style about how to spell
  • (of letters) make up or form (a word): the letters spell the word ‘how’
  • 2be a sign or characteristic of:she had the chic, efficient look that spells Milan
  • mean or have as a result:the plans would spell disaster for the economy

Phrasal Verbs

spell something out

explain something in detail:I’ll spell out the problem again

Derivatives

spellable

adjective

Origin:

Middle English: shortening of Old French espeller, from the Germanic base of spell2

spell in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of spell in the US English dictionary