Definition

1. Noun:

   • A cylindrical device for winding: A spool or frame that rotates, used for winding flexible materials like thread, film, rope, or fishing line.
   • A quantity of wound material: The measured amount of a material, such as film or tape, contained on one spool.
   • A lively folk dance: A fast-paced dance, often of Scottish or American origin, characterized by circular patterns and couples facing each other in lines.
   • Music for such a dance: A piece of music composed for performing a reel.

2. Verb:

   • To wind on or off a spool: To draw something in or let it out by winding it onto or off a reel.
   • To stagger or sway unsteadily: To walk or move in a clumsy, staggering manner, often as if about to fall.
   • To whirl or spin: To revolve rapidly, or to feel as if everything is spinning around, often due to dizziness or shock.
   • To recite rapidly: To say or write something at great speed and without apparent effort.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • He replaced the empty reel on the fishing rod. (The spool on the fishing equipment was changed.)
  • The film was stored on several large reels. (The movie was contained on multiple large spools of film.)
  • They danced a traditional Irish reel at the festival. (They performed a fast folk dance.)

• Verb:

  • She began to reel in the fishing line. (She started winding the line back onto the spool.)
  • The boxer was hit hard and began to reel backwards. (The boxer staggered unsteadily after the punch.)
  • My head started to reel from the overwhelming news. (I felt dizzy and disoriented from the shocking information.)
  • He could reel off the names of all the presidents in order. (He could recite the list quickly and fluently.)

Advanced Usage

• "reel from something": To be shocked, upset, or overwhelmed by something, causing a disoriented or staggering reaction, either physically or mentally.

  • The community is still reeling from the sudden loss. (The community is deeply shocked and struggling to cope.)

• "reel something off": To say, list, or produce something quickly and easily without pause.

  • The seasoned comedian could reel off jokes one after another. (The comedian could deliver jokes in rapid succession.)

Variants and Related Words

• Reeler (n): A person or machine that reels something.
• Reeling (adj/gerund): The act of winding or staggering; a state of dizziness or shock.
  • He was in a reeling state of confusion.

Synonyms

• Spool, bobbin (n): For the winding device.
• Stagger, totter, lurch (v): For unsteady movement.
• Recite, rattle off, list (v): For speaking rapidly.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Reel in: To pull something toward you by winding a reel; (figuratively) to attract or secure something, like a deal or a person.

  • He managed to reel in a large fish. (He successfully pulled the fish in.)
  • The marketing campaign helped reel in new customers. (The campaign helped attract new clients.)

• Reel off: To recite or produce something rapidly and effortlessly.

  • She can reel off statistics about the economy. (She can quote economic data quickly.)

• Reel back/away: To stagger backwards, often in shock or to avoid something.

  • She reeled back in horror at the sight. (She staggered backwards, horrified.)

Related Idioms

• Off the reel: Continuously, without stopping or pausing.

  • He talked for an hour off the reel. (He talked non-stop for an hour.)

• Reel under the impact/blow: To be severely affected or overwhelmed by a difficult event or piece of news.

  • The company reels under the financial blow. (The company is struggling severely due to the financial hit.)

Noun

1. an American country dance which starts with the couples facing each other in two lines
2. a lively dance of Scottish Highlanders; marked by circular moves and gliding steps
3. a winder around which thread or tape or film or other flexible materials can be wound
4. winder consisting of a revolving spool with a handle; attached to a fishing rod
5. music composed for dancing a reel
6. a roll of photographic film holding a series of frames to be projected by a movie projector

Verb

1. wind onto or off a reel
2. revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis
   • The dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy
3. walk as if unable to control one's movements
   • The drunken man staggered into the room