spell
/spel/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
1. Noun: - A magical formula: A spoken word or phrase believed to have magical power to cause a specific effect. - A short, indefinite period: A limited duration of time, often characterized by a particular condition or activity. - A turn of work: A period of duty that one person takes before being relieved by another.
2. Verb: - To write or name letters: To form a word correctly with its letters in the proper order. - To signify or mean: To be a sign of something; to indicate a particular result or consequence. - To take turns: To relieve someone by taking over their work for a period. - To enchant: To put someone under the influence of a magical spell.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The witch cast a powerful spell on the kingdom. (Refers to a magical formula.)
- We had a spell of rainy weather last week. (Refers to a period of time.)
- It's my spell at the watchtower now. (Refers to a turn of work.)
Verb:
- Can you spell your last name for me? (Refers to writing/naming letters.)
- His silence spells trouble for our plans. (Refers to signifying a consequence.)
- I will spell you at the front desk so you can take a break. (Refers to taking turns in work.)
Advanced Usage
- "to cast a spell on/over someone": To use magic to influence someone; figuratively, to fascinate or enchant someone.
- The musician's performance cast a spell over the entire audience.
- "under a spell": Being controlled or enchanted by magic.
- The prince was under a spell and slept for a hundred years.
Variants and Related Words
- Spelling (n): The process or skill of writing or naming the letters of a word.
- Her spelling is excellent.
- Speller (n): A person who spells words, or a book for teaching spelling.
- Spellbound (adj): Fascinated or entranced as if by a spell.
- The children were spellbound by the storyteller.
Synonyms
- Noun (Magical formula): Incantation, charm, enchantment.
- Noun (Period): Stint, interval, bout, stretch.
- Verb (Write letters): Write out, form.
- Verb (Signify): Mean, portend, indicate.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Spell out:
- To write or say the letters of a word in order.
- Please spell out your email address clearly.
- To explain something in a very clear and detailed way.
- The contract spells out all the terms and conditions.
- Spell for/over (archaic/less common): To take a turn doing work for someone.
- He offered to spell for the tired guard.
Related Idioms
- A dry spell: A period of little or no activity, success, or rainfall.
- The company is going through a dry spell with no new projects.
- Spell disaster/trouble/doom: To be a clear sign that something bad will happen.
- Those dark clouds spell trouble for our picnic.
Noun
- a verbal formula believed to have magical force
- he whispered a spell as he moved his hands
- inscribed around its base is a charm in Balinese
- a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
- he was here for a little while
- I need to rest for a piece
- a spell of good weather
- a patch of bad weather
- a time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
- it's my go
- a spell of work
- a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
Verb
- take turns working
- the workers spell every four hours
- place under a spell
- relieve (someone) from work by taking a turn
- She spelled her husband at the wheel
- write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word)
- He spelled the word wrong in this letter
- indicate or signify
- I'm afraid this spells trouble!
- orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of
- How do you spell this word? We had to spell out our names for the police officer