spell

Word family  noun spelling speller. misspelling verb spell misspell

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Linguistics

spell1 /spel/ ●●● S2 verb (past tense and past participle spelt /spelt/ especially British English or spelled especially American English)  1  [intransitive, transitive]SLWRITE to form a word by writing or naming the letters in order 〔用字母〕拼写，拼出 How do you spell ‘juice’? juice 怎么拼？ Pupils should know how to spell commonly used words. 小学生应该知道常用词的拼法。spell something wrong/wrongly You’ve spelled my name wrong. 你把我的名字拼错了。2  [transitive]WRITE if letters spell a word, they form it 〔字母〕拼成〔某词〕 B-O-O-K spells ‘book’. B-O-O-K 拼成 book（书）。n 'Love' is spelled L-O-V-E.3  spell trouble/disaster/danger etc SHOW/BE A SIGN OFif a situation or action spells trouble etc, it makes you expect trouble etc 招致[带来]麻烦/灾难/危险等 The lack of rain could spell disaster for farmers. 缺少雨水会给农民带来灾难。4  [transitive] American EnglishWORK/DO WORKINSTEAD to do someone else’s work for them for a short period so that they can rest 暂时代替〔某人工作，以便让他休息〕 I can spell you if you get tired. 如果你累了，我可以替你一会儿。5 spell something ↔ out phrasal verb a) EXPLAINto explain something clearly and in detail 清楚地说明；详细地解释spell out how/what etc The report spelled out in detail what the implications were for teacher training. 这份报告详细说明了教师培训的作用。b) SAY/STATEto show how a word is spelled by writing or saying the letters separately in order 〔用字母〕拼出〔某个单词〕 ‘W-E-I-R, ’ she said, spelling it out. “W-E-I-R, ” 她一个字母一个字母地把它拼了出来。c) WRITEto write a word in its complete form instead of using an abbreviation 全部拼出，全部写出〔某个单词，而不用缩写〕→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

spell• "B-O-O-K" spells "book."• He always spells his name for secretaries.• Gray also published a book by the same title in which he managed to spell Jon Swain's name incorrectly.• The scale of the catastrophe was spelled out by one speaker after another.• This argument is spelled out in detail in Chapter 19.• These can be spelled out pretty easily on a resume, but the new qualifications can not.• Some deaf children are, however, very proficient at sign language and they can also spell out words using finger spelling.• And your last name is Aitchson? Could your spell that out for me please?• No one thinks this could spell the closure of the firm, but things could be better.• Out-of-town retail developments often spell the death of independent high street shops.• These new rules spell the end of jobs as we have known them.• That spells trouble for the individual, the team, and, perhaps most important, the client.• I've never been able to spell very well in English.• In American English, 'organize' is always spelled with a 'z'.• "How do you spell your name?" "S-M-I-T-H."• How do you spell your surname?spell2 ●○○ noun [countable]  1  MAGICa piece of magic that someone does, or the special words or ceremonies used in doing it 魔法；符咒，咒语 a magic spell 魔咒put/cast a spell on somebody (=do a piece of magic to change someone) 对某人施魔法 The kiss of the prince broke the spell (=stopped the magic from working). 王子的吻解除了魔咒。be under a spell The whole town seemed to be under a spell. 整个小镇都像中了魔法似的。2  PERIOD OF TIMEa period of a particular kind of activity, weather, illness etc, usually a short period 〔某种活动、天气、疾病等的〕一段时间〔通常时间较短〕brief/short spell After a brief spell in the army, I returned to teaching. 我在部队里待了一阵子，又回来教书了。spell of a spell of bad luck 一段倒霉的日子cold/wet/dry spell Water the young plants carefully during dry spells. 干燥无雨的时候要细心地给幼苗浇水。 a day of sunny spells and scattered showers 间晴且有零星阵雨的一天 He began to suffer from dizzy spells. 他开始一阵阵头晕。3  EFFECT/INFLUENCEa power that attracts, interests, and influences you very strongly 吸引力，魅力；迷惑力fall/come/be under a spell I fell under the spell of her charm. 我被她的魅力迷倒了。 an ancient city that still casts its spell over travellers 对旅游者依然具有魔力的一座古城4  break the spell to make someone stop paying all their attention to something, or to make a time stop feeling special （使）停止着魔状态，（使）走出入迷状态 He lay still, not wanting to break the spell. 他静静地躺着，不想结束这魔幻般的美妙时刻。n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: a piece of magic that someone does, or the special words or ceremonies used in doing itadjectivesa magic spellShe found an ancient book of magic spells.an evil spellThe people still believe in evil spells.verbscast a spell (on somebody) (=do some magic)Suddenly everyone froze, as if a wizard had cast a spell on them.weave a spell (=do some magic)She wove a spell, so that he slept forever and never grew old.put a spell on somebody (=make magic affect someone)The fairy put a terrible spell on the princess.break a spell (=end the effect of some magic)No one knew how to break the spell.n COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: a period of a particular kind of activity, weather, illness etc, usually a short periodadjectivesa brief/short spellAfter a brief spell in a florist's shop, she became a hairdresser.a long/prolonged spellWe have just had a long spell of unusually dry weather.a dry/wet spellKeep fuchsias well watered during prolonged dry spells in summer.a cold/warm/hot spellThere was a very cold spell in late November.sunny spellsTuesday will be dry with sunny spells.a dizzy/fainting spell (=one when you feel unable to stand steadily and your head feels unclear)She must have had a dizzy spell and fallen.a good/bad spellThe team had some good spells during the match.a quiet spell (=when not much is happening)We've had quite a quiet spell at work recently.

Examples from the Corpus

spell• The Lilac Fairy cast a spell that sent Aurora to sleep.• We are just here for a spell and pass on.• He's had a spell of bad luck recently.• Pick a spell of dry weather and travel light: you could be pleasantly surprised.• When the old man was angry, he threatened to put a spell on the whole tribe.• Carmelina knew that the bird was really the handsome prince under a spell from the wicked witch.• After a brief spell in the army, I returned to teaching.• A black witch, casting spells from her hiding-place in the corner.• We had another cold spell last week.• I've had a few dizzy spells lately.• And in there is the Robemaker's cache of enchantments ... The stockroom of spells ... The necromancer's treasure-house.• I thought that, if we were to meet again, he would remove the spell that he had cast over me.• They were not among the famous and the sought-after who gathered under the spell of the White City.• As a leading suffragette, she endured the first of two spells in Holloway gaol in 1907.be under a spell• It was as though I had no will of my own at the time and was under a spell.• The staff are under a spell.dizzy spells• After Allitt moved out of the Jobsons' home, his dizzy spells, craving for chocolate and sudden collapses had stopped.• The dizzy spells were increasing in frequency.• If they are arthritic, their sight is poor, or they are subject to dizzy spells they may trip over the flex.fall/come/be under a spell• It was as though I had no will of my own at the time and was under a spell.• The staff are under a spell.Origin spell1 (1200-1300) Old French espeller spell2 1. Old English “talk, story”2. (1600-1700) spell “to take the place of another” ((11-21 centuries)), from Old English spelian

spell1 verbspell2 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1 →n COLLOCATIONS2LDOCE OnlineChinese  

writing to form word Corpus a by

spell

I

spell¹ S2 /spel/ verb (past tense and past participle spelt /spelt/ especially British English or spelled especially American English)1. [intransitive and transitive] to form a word by writing or naming the letters in order:
    How do you spell ‘juice’?
    Pupils should know how to spell commonly used words.
    spell something wrong/wrongly
    You’ve spelled my name wrong.
2. [transitive not in passive] if letters spell a word, they form it:
    B-O-O-K spells ‘book’.
3. spell trouble/disaster/danger etc if a situation or action spells trouble etc, it makes you expect trouble etc:
    The lack of rain could spell disaster for farmers.
4. [transitive] American English to do someone else’s work for them for a short period so that they can rest:
    I can spell you if you get tired.
     
spell something ↔ out phrasal verb
  1. to explain something clearly and in detail
    spell out how/what etc
    The report spelled out in detail what the implications were for teacher training.
  2. to show how a word is spelled by writing or saying the letters separately in order:
    ‘W-E-I-R,’ she said, spelling it out.
  3. to write a word in its complete form instead of using an abbreviation

II

spell² noun [countable]1. a piece of magic that someone does, or the special words or ceremonies used in doing it:
    a magic spell
    put/cast a spell on somebody (=do a piece of magic to change someone)
    The kiss of the prince broke the spell (=stopped the magic from working).
    be under a spell
    The whole town seemed to be under a spell.
2. a period of a particular kind of activity, weather, illness etc, usually a short period
    brief/short spell
    After a brief spell in the army, I returned to teaching.
    spell of
    a spell of bad luck
    cold/wet/dry spell
    Water the young plants carefully during dry spells.
    a day of sunny spells and scattered showers
    He began to suffer from dizzy spells.
3. a power that attracts, interests, and influences you very strongly
    fall/come/be under a spell
    I fell under the spell of her charm.
    an ancient city that still casts its spell over travellers
4. break the spell to make someone stop paying all their attention to something, or to make a time stop feeling special:
    He lay still, not wanting to break the spell.
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 1)

■ adjectives
   ▪ a magic spell She found an ancient book of magic spells.
   ▪ an evil spell The people still believe in evil spells.
■ verbs
   ▪ cast a spell (on somebody) (=do some magic) Suddenly everyone froze, as if a wizard had cast a spell on them.
   ▪ weave a spell (=do some magic) She wove a spell, so that he slept forever and never grew old.
   ▪ put a spell on somebody (=make magic affect someone) The fairy put a terrible spell on the princess.
   ▪ break a spell (=end the effect of some magic) No one knew how to break the spell.
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 2)

■ adjectives
   ▪ a brief/short spell After a brief spell in a florist's shop, she became a hairdresser.
   ▪ a long/prolonged spell We have just had a long spell of unusually dry weather.
   ▪ a dry/wet spell Keep fuchsias well watered during prolonged dry spells in summer.
   ▪ a cold/warm/hot spell There was a very cold spell in late November.
   ▪ sunny spells Tuesday will be dry with sunny spells.
   ▪ a dizzy/fainting spell (=one when you feel unable to stand steadily and your head feels unclear) She must have had a dizzy spell and fallen.
   ▪ a good/bad spell The team had some good spells during the match.
   ▪ a quiet spell (=when not much is happening) We've had quite a quiet spell at work recently.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ magic noun [uncountable] the power to make impossible things happen, by saying special words or doing special actions: In the story, she uses magic to turn him into a frog. | Local people believe that he can heal wounds and illnesses using magic.
   ▪ witchcraft noun [uncountable] the use of magic, usually to do bad things: Hundreds of women were accused of witchcraft in the 1600s.
   ▪ spell noun [countable] a special set of words or actions that are used to make something happen by magic: a magic spell | An evil witch cast a spell on him (=said a special set of words or did a special series of actions, in order to make something happen to someone by magic), turning him into a beast.
   ▪ curse (also hex American English) noun [countable] something that makes someone or something have bad luck: The house seemed to have a curse on it. | People believed the pharaoh would put a curse on (=use magic to make them have bad luck)anyone who broke into the tomb. | She believed her former husband had put a hex on her.
   ▪ the occult mysterious powers and events that involve magic and spirits: He was very interested in the occult.
   ▪ voodoo noun [uncountable] magical beliefs and practices used as a form of religion: a voodoo curse | In Haiti, the people still practice voodoo.