spell

spell

I

spell¹ S2 /spel/ verb (past tense and past participle spelt /spelt/ especially British English or spelled especially American English)1. [intransitive and transitive] to form a word by writing or naming the letters in order:
    How do you spell ‘juice’?
    Pupils should know how to spell commonly used words.
    spell something wrong/wrongly
    You’ve spelled my name wrong.
2. [transitive not in passive] if letters spell a word, they form it:
    B-O-O-K spells ‘book’.
3. spell trouble/disaster/danger etc if a situation or action spells trouble etc, it makes you expect trouble etc:
    The lack of rain could spell disaster for farmers.
4. [transitive] American English to do someone else’s work for them for a short period so that they can rest:
    I can spell you if you get tired.
     
spell something ↔ out phrasal verb
  1. to explain something clearly and in detail
    spell out how/what etc
    The report spelled out in detail what the implications were for teacher training.
  2. to show how a word is spelled by writing or saying the letters separately in order:
    ‘W-E-I-R,’ she said, spelling it out.
  3. to write a word in its complete form instead of using an abbreviation

II

spell² noun [countable]1. a piece of magic that someone does, or the special words or ceremonies used in doing it:
    a magic spell
    put/cast a spell on somebody (=do a piece of magic to change someone)
    The kiss of the prince broke the spell (=stopped the magic from working).
    be under a spell
    The whole town seemed to be under a spell.
2. a period of a particular kind of activity, weather, illness etc, usually a short period
    brief/short spell
    After a brief spell in the army, I returned to teaching.
    spell of
    a spell of bad luck
    cold/wet/dry spell
    Water the young plants carefully during dry spells.
    a day of sunny spells and scattered showers
    He began to suffer from dizzy spells.
3. a power that attracts, interests, and influences you very strongly
    fall/come/be under a spell
    I fell under the spell of her charm.
    an ancient city that still casts its spell over travellers
4. break the spell to make someone stop paying all their attention to something, or to make a time stop feeling special:
    He lay still, not wanting to break the spell.
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 1)

■ adjectives
   ▪ a magic spell She found an ancient book of magic spells.
   ▪ an evil spell The people still believe in evil spells.
■ verbs
   ▪ cast a spell (on somebody) (=do some magic) Suddenly everyone froze, as if a wizard had cast a spell on them.
   ▪ weave a spell (=do some magic) She wove a spell, so that he slept forever and never grew old.
   ▪ put a spell on somebody (=make magic affect someone) The fairy put a terrible spell on the princess.
   ▪ break a spell (=end the effect of some magic) No one knew how to break the spell.
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 2)

■ adjectives
   ▪ a brief/short spell After a brief spell in a florist's shop, she became a hairdresser.
   ▪ a long/prolonged spell We have just had a long spell of unusually dry weather.
   ▪ a dry/wet spell Keep fuchsias well watered during prolonged dry spells in summer.
   ▪ a cold/warm/hot spell There was a very cold spell in late November.
   ▪ sunny spells Tuesday will be dry with sunny spells.
   ▪ a dizzy/fainting spell (=one when you feel unable to stand steadily and your head feels unclear) She must have had a dizzy spell and fallen.
   ▪ a good/bad spell The team had some good spells during the match.
   ▪ a quiet spell (=when not much is happening) We've had quite a quiet spell at work recently.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ magic noun [uncountable] the power to make impossible things happen, by saying special words or doing special actions: In the story, she uses magic to turn him into a frog. | Local people believe that he can heal wounds and illnesses using magic.
   ▪ witchcraft noun [uncountable] the use of magic, usually to do bad things: Hundreds of women were accused of witchcraft in the 1600s.
   ▪ spell noun [countable] a special set of words or actions that are used to make something happen by magic: a magic spell | An evil witch cast a spell on him (=said a special set of words or did a special series of actions, in order to make something happen to someone by magic), turning him into a beast.
   ▪ curse (also hex American English) noun [countable] something that makes someone or something have bad luck: The house seemed to have a curse on it. | People believed the pharaoh would put a curse on (=use magic to make them have bad luck)anyone who broke into the tomb. | She believed her former husband had put a hex on her.
   ▪ the occult mysterious powers and events that involve magic and spirits: He was very interested in the occult.
   ▪ voodoo noun [uncountable] magical beliefs and practices used as a form of religion: a voodoo curse | In Haiti, the people still practice voodoo.