SPELL (spelt)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: spelt   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does spell mean? 

• SPELL (noun)
  The noun SPELL has 4 senses:

1. a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation

2. a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

3. a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition

4. a verbal formula believed to have magical force

  Familiarity information: SPELL used as a noun is uncommon.

• SPELL (verb)
  The verb SPELL has 6 senses:

1. orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of

2. indicate or signify

3. write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)

4. relieve (someone) from work by taking a turn

5. place under a spell

6. take turns working

  Familiarity information: SPELL used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPELL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

enchantment; spell; trance

Hypernyms ("spell" is a kind of...):

mental condition; mental state; psychological condition; psychological state ((psychology) a mental condition in which the qualities of a state are relatively constant even though the state itself may be dynamic)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spell"):

possession (being controlled by passion or the supernatural)

captivation; fascination (the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror))

Derivation:

spell (place under a spell)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

go; spell; tour; turn

Context example:

a spell of work

Hypernyms ("spell" is a kind of...):

duty period; shift; work shift (the time period during which you are at work)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

patch; piece; spell; while

Context example:

a patch of bad weather

Hypernyms ("spell" is a kind of...):

time (an indefinite period (usually marked by specific attributes or activities))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spell"):

cold snap; cold spell (a spell of cold weather)

hot spell (a spell of hot weather)

snap (a spell of cold weather)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A verbal formula believed to have magical force

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

charm; magic spell; magical spell; spell

Context example:

inscribed around its base is a charm in Balinese

Hypernyms ("spell" is a kind of...):

language; oral communication; speech; speech communication; spoken communication; spoken language; voice communication ((language) communication by word of mouth)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spell"):

conjuration; incantation (a ritual recitation of words or sounds believed to have a magical effect)

curse; hex; jinx; whammy (an evil spell)

Derivation:

spell (place under a spell)

• SPELL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they spell    ... he / she / it spells   
Past simple: spelled    / spelt   
Past participle: spelled    / spelt   
-ing form: spelling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

spell; spell out

Context example:

We had to spell out our names for the police officer

Hypernyms (to "spell" is one way to...):

recite (repeat aloud from memory)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spell"):

misspell (spell incorrectly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

speller (someone who spells words)

spelling (forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Indicate or signify

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

import; spell

Context example:

I'm afraid this spells trouble!

Hypernyms (to "spell" is one way to...):

intend; mean (mean or intend to express or convey)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

spell; write

Context example:

He spelled the word wrong in this letter

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "spell"):

spell out (spell fully and without abbreviating)

hyphen; hyphenate (divide or connect with a hyphen)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

spelling (forming words with letters according to the principles underlying accepted usage)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Relieve (someone) from work by taking a turn

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

She spelled her husband at the wheel

Hypernyms (to "spell" is one way to...):

relieve; take over (free someone temporarily from his or her obligations)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 5

Meaning:

Place under a spell

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "spell" is one way to...):

bewitch; enchant; glamour; hex; jinx; witch (cast a spell over someone or something; put a hex on someone or something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

unspell (release from a spell)

Derivation:

spell (a verbal formula believed to have magical force)

spell (a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Take turns working

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

the workers spell every four hours

Hypernyms (to "spell" is one way to...):

alternate; take turns (do something in turns)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

 Context examples 

Had he, the spell would have been broken.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

We can't afford to take chances in a country like this. Two-hour spells in the future, for each of us.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When he had spoken, Mina's long spell of silence made me look at her.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Why yes, I've took a short spell at The Willing Mind tonight,” said Mr. Peggotty.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I would spell it, read it, write it with anybody.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

In truth, my spells of resting were longer than those of working.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"Turn 'm loose for a spell."

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Thus the spell was broken, and all who had been turned into stones awoke, and took their proper forms.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Long spells of coughing may cause vomiting, and broken blood vessels in the eyes and on the skin.

(Pertussis, NCI Dictionary)

Patient Health Questionnaire - 15 (PHQ-15) Fainting spells.

(PHQ-15 - Fainting Spells, NCI Thesaurus)