Reel Definition & Meaning

American

British

Related Words

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms reel 1 American [reel] / ril /

noun

1. a cylinder, frame, or other device that turns on an axis and is used to wind up or pay out something.

2. a rotatory device attached to a fishing rod at the butt, for winding up or letting out the line.

3. Photography.

   1. a spool on which film, especially motion-picture film, is wound.

   2. a roll of motion-picture film.

   3. a holder for roll film in a developing tank.

4. a quantity of something wound on a reel.

5. Chiefly British. a spool of sewing thread; a roller or bobbin of sewing thread.

verb (used with object)

1. to wind on a reel, as thread, yarn, etc.

2. to unwind (silk filaments) from a cocoon.

3. to pull or draw by winding a line on a reel.

   to reel a fish in.

verb phrase

1. reel off to say, write, or produce quickly and easily.

   The old sailor reeled off one story after another.

idioms

1. off the reel, Also right off the reel.

   1. without pause; continuously.

   2. without delay or hesitation; immediately.

reel 2 American [reel] / ril /

verb (used without object)

1. to sway or rock under a blow, shock, etc..

   The boxer reeled and fell.

2. to waver or fall back.

   The troops reeled and then ran.

3. to sway about in standing or walking, as from dizziness, intoxication, etc.; stagger.

4. to turn round and round; whirl.

5. to have a sensation of whirling.

   By the time we reached camp, my mind was reeling—there were so many incredible sights to take in!

6. to be in a state of shock, confusion, or disorder.

   The real-estate market is reeling from the compounding effects of oversupply, rising vacancy rates, and weak demand.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to reel.

noun

1. an act of reeling; a reeling or staggering movement.

reel 3 American [reel] / ril /

noun

1. a lively Scottish dance.

2. Virginia reel.

3. music for either of these dances.

reel 1 British / riːl, rɪəl /

noun

1. US equivalent: spool. any of various cylindrical objects or frames that turn on an axis and onto which film, magnetic tape, paper tape, wire, thread, etc, may be wound

2. angling a device for winding, casting, etc, consisting of a revolving spool with a handle, attached to a fishing rod

3. a roll of celluloid exhibiting a sequence of photographs to be projected

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. to wind (cotton, thread, etc) onto a reel

2. to wind or draw with a reel

   to reel in a fish

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 reel 2 British / riːl, rɪəl /

verb

1. to sway, esp under the shock of a blow or through dizziness or drunkenness

2. to whirl about or have the feeling of whirling about

   his brain reeled

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

1. a staggering or swaying motion or sensation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 reel 3 British / riːl, rɪəl /

noun

1. any of various lively Scottish dances, such as the eightsome reel and foursome reel for a fixed number of couples who combine in square and circular formations

2. a piece of music having eight quavers to the bar composed for or in the rhythm of this dance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See stagger.

Other Word Forms

• reelable adjective
• reeler noun

Etymology

Origin of reel1

First recorded before 1050; Middle English noun rel(e), Old English hrēol; rēol, cognate with Old Norse hræll “weaver's rod”; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of reel2

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English relen, apparently derivative of rele “rod, reel” ( reel 1 )

Origin of reel3

First recorded in 1575–85; special use of reel 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Meanwhile, Lorren—who’d never stopped reeling from Rachel’s claim about Traveler’s post—was tired of watching me spin my wheels when it came to learning basic facts about the boy we talked to every day.

From Literature

But despite all that, all I could manage to do was stand there, reeling at what this meant.

From Literature

A highlight reel of Ford’s various acting performances played ahead of his accepting the award.

From Los Angeles Times

But China's Wu, 22, responded in stunning fashion to level the match at 4-4 by reeling off three consecutive frames thanks to a pair of half-centuries and a 122 break.

From BBC

At 10 years old, she performed as an opening act for Ricky Martin in 1991, to the credit of her father, a concert promoter who reeled international stars to Guatemala.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• falter
• lurch
• shake
• stagger
• stumble
• teeter

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.