reel: Meaning and Definition of

reel

Pronunciation: (rēl), [key]
— n.
  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.
    1. a spool on which film, esp. motion-picture film, is wound.
    2. a roll of motion-picture film.
    3. a holder for roll film in a developing tank.
  3. a quantity of something wound on a reel.
  4. a spool of sewing thread; a roller or bobbin of sewing thread.
    1. without pause; continuously.
    2. without delay or hesitation; immediately. Also,right off the reel.
—v.t.
  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.
  4. to say, write, or produce quickly and easily: The old sailor reeled off one story after another.

reel

Pronunciation: (rēl), [key]
—v.t.
  1. to cause to reel.
—n.
  1. an act of reeling; a reeling or staggering movement.

reel

Pronunciation: (rēl), [key]
  1. a lively Scottish dance.
  2. See
  3. music for either of these dances.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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