spell🔊

Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers. +

A magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula. +

(obsolete) Speech, discourse.

To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.

(write or say the letters that form a word) (sometimes with “out”) To write or say the letters that form a word or part of a word.

(obsolete) To read (something) as though letter by letter; to peruse slowly or with effort.

Of letters: to compose (a word).

(with “out”) To clarify; to explain in detail.

To indicate that (some event) will occur; {{n-g|typically followed by a single-word noun}}.

To constitute; to measure.

(obsolete) To speak, to declaim. (16th c.)

(obsolete) To tell; to relate; to teach.

To work in place of (someone).

(Rest) To rest (someone or something), to give someone or something a rest or break.

(colloquial) To rest from work for a time.

A shift (of work); (rare) a set of workers responsible for a specific turn of labour.

(informal) A definite period (of work or other activity).

(colloquial) An indefinite period of time (usually with a qualifier); {{n-g|by extension,}} a relatively short distance.

A period of rest; time off.

(US) A period of illness, or sudden interval of bad spirits, disease etc.

(cricket) An uninterrupted series of alternate overs bowled by a single bowler.

(Northern England) A splinter, usually of wood; a spelk.

The wooden bat in the game of trap ball, or knurr and spell.