reel
pronunciation
How to pronounce reel in British English:
UK [riːl]
How to pronounce reel in American English:
US [riːl]
-
- Noun:
- a roll of photographic film holding a series of frames to be projected by a movie projector
- music composed for dancing a reel
- winder consisting of a revolving spool with a handle; attached to a fishing rod
- a winder around which thread or tape or film or other flexible materials can be wound
- a lively dance of Scottish highlanders; marked by circular moves and gliding steps
- an American country dance which starts with the couples facing each other in two lines
-
- Verb:
- walk as if unable to control one's movements
- revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis
- wind onto or off a reel
Word Origin
- reel (n.1)
- "frame turning on an axis," especially one on which thread is wound, late Old English hreol "reel for winding thread," from Proto-Germanic *hrehulaz; probably related to hrægel "garment," and Old Norse hræll "spindle," from PIE *krek- "to weave, beat" (cognates: Greek krokus "nap of cloth"). Specifically of the fishing rod attachment from 1726; of a film projector apparatus from 1896. Reel-to-reel type of tape deck is attested from 1958.
- reel (n.2)
- "lively Highland dance," 1580s, probably a special use of reel (n.1), which had a secondary sense of "a whirl, whirling movement" (1570s) or from reel (v.1). Applied to the music for such a dance from 1590s.
- reel (v.1)
- "to whirl around," late 14c., also "sway, swing, rock, become unsteady" (late 14c.), "stagger as a result of a blow, etc." (c. 1400), probably from reel (n.1), on notion of "spinning." Of the mind, from 1796. Related: Reeled; reeling.
- reel (v.2)
- "to wind on a reel," late 14c., from reel (n.1). Verbal phrase reel off "recite without pause or effort" is from 1837. Fishing sense is from 1849. Related: Reeled; reeling.
Example
- 1. And it made me reel when it did come .
- 2. Unusual wall clock made out of recycled magnetic tape reel .
- 3. Still , many in the industry are sceptical about ditching the 35mm reel for good .
- 4. It has turned into a kind of treasure hunt . We need a chestnut tree leaf , a reel of cotton and an english / serbian speaker .
- 5. It can print this electrolyte ( along with the battery 's electrodes ) onto a sheet of metal or plastic that passes from one reel to another in a process similar to that used in a traditional printing press .