spell
spehl
Spell (noun) means Words believed to have magical power, or the magical effect they produce. Example: “The witch cast a spell to turn the prince into a frog.”
noun
1
Words believed to have magical power, or the magical effect they produce.
"The witch cast a spell to turn the prince into a frog."
"Everyone in the story fell asleep when the old wizard muttered a spell."
"She read the spell aloud from the dusty book, but nothing happened."
2
A short period of time doing a particular activity, or a stretch of a certain kind of weather.
"We had a dry spell that lasted almost a month."
"He took a short spell at the wheel while she rested."
"A cold spell kept the children indoors for most of the week."
verb
1
To write or say the letters that make up a word, in the correct order.
"Can you spell your last name for me?"
"She always struggled to spell "necessary" correctly."
"The teacher asked the class to spell each new word on the board."
2
To indicate or signal that something is likely to happen.
"The dark clouds spelled trouble for the outdoor wedding."
"Another missed payment could spell disaster for the small company."
"The new road may spell the end of the quiet village."
How to use spell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA magic charm, the act of writing out a word's letters correctly, or a short stretch of time/activity.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the "cast a spell" sense with "spell a word" — same word, unrelated modern meanings.
Common pairings
cast a spell
spell a word correctly
a dry spell
a spell of bad weather
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Word forms
- Plural
- spells
- Third person singular
- spells
- Past tense
- spelled, spelt
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The witch cast a _____ to turn the prince into a frog.
Etymology
From Old English spell ("story, news, tale"), from Proto-Germanic *spellą. The "magic words" sense and the "write out letters" sense both branched from this old idea of telling or reciting something.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for spell
See all rhymes for spell →Frequently asked questions
What does “spell” mean?
The word “spell” means words believed to have magical power, or the magical effect they produce. In plain terms, a magic charm, the act of writing out a word's letters correctly, or a short stretch of time/activity.
How do you pronounce “spell”?
“Spell” is pronounced spehl (/spɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “spell” in a sentence?
Here is “spell” used in a sentence: “The witch cast a spell to turn the prince into a frog.”
What part of speech is “spell”?
Depending on how it is used, “spell” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “spell” come from?
The word “spell” comes from Old English. From Old English spell ("story, news, tale"), from Proto-Germanic *spellą. The "magic words" sense and the "write out letters" sense both branched from this old idea of telling or reciting something.
Is “spell” a common word?
“Spell” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “spell” have?
“Spell” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: words believed to have magical power, or the magical effect they produce.
What is the difference between the two meanings of 'spell'?
As a noun, spell can mean words believed to have magical power or the magical effect they produce, as in casting a spell. As a verb, spell means to write or say the letters of a word in the correct order. The two senses are unrelated in meaning despite sharing a form.
What is the difference between a spell and a curse?
A spell is words believed to have magical power or the effect they produce, and can be intended for good or ill. A curse is specifically a spell or wish meant to bring harm or misfortune, so a curse is a kind of hostile spell.
What are common phrases using the word 'spell'?
Common phrases include 'cast a spell', 'break a spell', 'under a spell', and 'spell out' (to explain something in clear detail). 'Under someone's spell' is used figuratively to mean strongly attracted to or influenced by them.
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