1Write or name the letters that form (a word) in correct sequence.

1. 1.1 (of letters) make up or form (a word)
   the letters spell the word “how.”

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The first team to lose five hands, thus getting five letters spelling the whole word K-E-M-P-S loses the game.
   • Black letters spelled out the words ‘Beyond Reality’ above the display on a piece of wood that seemed to have a revolting green mold growing in one of the corners.
   • I liked the black letters that were sparkly and spelled the word, ‘hottie’.
   • Huge upholstered foam letters ring the gallery space, spelling the word HOPE in English, French, Hebrew and Arabic.
   • While you're at it, try and decipher what the letters spell out.
   • Each picture is a grid of 16 photographs headed by letters spelling out an obscene word or provocative statement.
   • The participants classified the target by pressing one key if the letter string spelled a word they knew, and another key if it did not.
   • I brought a large book to my office; its title, A Black History of America, was spelled out in gold letters.
   • Five seconds later the screen was black, and big letters spelled out the words: GAME OVER.
   • He didn't care about the numbers, but the letters clearly spelled something.
   • The letters spelling out Canadian Security Investigative Service were in big white bold letters around the circumference of the circle.
   • If you hadn't already noticed, the first letter of each rule spells out the word kitchen.
   • She had on her bright red ‘It wasn't me’ shirt, with the white letters spelling out the denial on her chest.
   • Hung unevenly along the wall, the topsy-turvy letters spelling Water decline toward the floor in a symbolic cascade.
   • Brass lettering spelled SUPERINTENDENT on it, and Spade rapped loudly on the wood.
   • Faded gold lettering spelled out the words, ‘The Lore of the Navy.’
   • I've thought of writing a poem, with the first letter of each word spelling my email, but my attempts so far are not likely to get a reply.
   • Little letters spelt out his birth date and the whole book was decorated in blue and green pieces of paper and sparkly letters.
   • So I started shooting photos that incorporate big letters spelling a holiday greeting and used them to illustrate our Christmas newsletter.
   • The compositions still feature letters, now spelling out complete words and phrases.
2. 1.2 Be recognizable as a sign or characteristic of.
   she had the chic, efficient look that spells Milan
3. 1.3 Lead to.
   the plans would spell disaster for the economy

   Example sentencesExamples

   • That can spell disaster for an individual's health.
   • Schemes such as interlinking of rivers could spell disaster for the environment, as they represent gross interference with natural processes, he says.
   • For everyone else, however, it spells disaster.
   • Despite good results in lesser matches, that World Cup defeat spelt the end of Thorne's captaincy.
   • The variable that promised to spell disaster for Iowa farmers was the high seed costs associated with GM crops.
   • And if he has to hike our taxes in the middle of a consumer downturn, it could spell disaster.
   • Publicity surrounding the case spelled disaster for the Queensland dive industry.
   • Slow economic times don't have to spell disaster for your business.
   • Such an event would spell disaster for the remainder of their journey.
   • This gross over-development for such a small, unique city spells disaster.
   • The event could have spelled disaster for the little grocery store.
   • But Harris is confident the newer company artists will spell success for the galleries who sign on.
   • This spells disaster for aquatic life unable to adjust to the altered conditions.
   • And that could really spell disaster when property taxes are also going up.
   • When things don't go as planned, debt can spell trouble.
   • Failure to resolve this last issue quickly and effectively would have spelled disaster for the plan.
   • In effect, the very characteristics that make it prosper at one time may spell its downfall at a later time.
   • Now she had concocted a plan that would spell doom for Shirley, her revenge for taking her man and insulting her pride.
   • Introducing a new leading character can spell disaster or triumph for an author.
   • Conservation experts say it spells disaster for cod stocks as talks continued last night.

   Synonyms

   lead to, result in, bring about, bring on, cause, be the cause of

1A form of words used as a magical charm or incantation.

1. 1.1 A state of enchantment caused by a magic spell.
   the magician may cast a spell on himself

   Example sentencesExamples

   • She cast a spell on you secretly so that you would be under her control.
   • But before he took the last step that brought him to the old man's domain, Cale had paid a half-demon sorceress to cast a spell on him.
   • He had also heard rumors of how she would cast a spell on the men she met, forever binding them to her will.
   • She had said that a long time ago a witch had cast a spell on this place.
   • It was perfectly safe; he had cast a spell on the fireball so it wouldn't burn anybody.
   • It felt like she had cast a spell on him, entrancing and beckoning him.
   • The figure cast a spell on Adrian, Beltrax, and Talia, teleporting them to an alcove within the dungeon.
   • Then she cast a spell on me to make me float in the air, and she hovered right near me.
   • Only her father knew, but told no one since she had cast a spell on him to keep her secrets.
   • I quickly cast a spell on my rod, blazing the magic back to the Shadow.
   • Following her into the Buddhist temple and into the Yellow Dragon Cave, the Supervisor seems to cast a spell on her.
   • He was almost contented when Maura cast a spell on the gates, giving them even more strength.
   • I cast a spell on you when your father died: I bound your powers so that you will only receive them when you're 18.
   • My mother died shortly after I became ten, I'm not sure what disease she had acquired, but I think Giselle must have cast a spell on her.
   • Luckily I cast a spell on the clothes so you can't take them off.
   • Raven had cast a spell on them, killing them with the fire of hell.
   • Shawna and I have switched bodies because your sister cast a spell on me.
   • Klynan cast a spell on the rocks and they turned red and burned.
   • I cast a spell on us right before I drifted off to sleep.
   • I was looking for the witch that cast a spell on the beautiful princess of this land.
2. 1.2 An ability to control or influence people as though one had magical power over them.
   she is afraid that you are waking from her spell

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Only a ponderous blues lead by shaven headed bass player John Power temporarily broke the spell.
   • Once again, he proved that age and disease have not robbed him of the magic to cast a spell on listeners with his poems.
   • He holds a formidable spell over Esperanza and controls her until she wises up and leaves him to pursue her career.
   • It made hardly any difference; the participants fell under the same spell of this situational power.
   • He stood there stupidly, under the spell of that single word.
   • Men often fall under the spell of the power of the boob.
   • When you're in the culture and you're living it day to day, living in Brooklyn, South Central or Oakland, you are under the spell of that cultural influence.

   Synonyms

   irresistible influence, fascination, magnetism, animal magnetism, charisma, allure, lure, charm, attraction, pull, draw, enticement, beguilement

1A short period.

1. 1.1 A period spent in an activity.
   a spell of greenhouse work

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Leaving school at 13 he did the round of reform schools after a spell of teenage misdemeanours.
   • In April, 1986, after a short spell managing a pub in Finglas, north Dublin, the Nevins opened Jack White's.
   • The second half produced some excellent spells of crisp passing from Town, but defences dominated.
   • It was then that he began a six-year spell working full-time on Socialist Worker.
   • A spell of hectic activity around the Stradbally area resulted in Mick Haughney setting up Garry Powell to equalise, in the 80 minute.
   • After a short spell doing odd jobs in New Plymouth, Stan's father landed a plum job in south Taranaki.
   • Time to have the tissues on stand by to dab, what we reckon, will be a short spell of weeping in the company of Liszt.
   • Then look at the couch potato who seems ready, not for an evening in front of the TV, but for a spell of inadvertent train spotting.

   Synonyms

   stint, turn, stretch, session, term
2. 1.2 A period of a specified kind of weather.
   an early cold spell in autumn

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Though the short spell of summer rain in the city had on Monday night helped to bring down the heat to some extent, the mercury level soared during the morning hours.
   • Patience is a virtue demonstrated by the old-timers in our mountain valley, who are less likely to hurry to plant even during unusual warm spells.
   • You may know exactly how much to water the plant but if you have a rainy spell it could be the demise of the mini garden that has no drainage system.
   • And we have been having a bizarre weather spell lately.
   • Raised beds do warm up faster, but if you raise the beds more than a couple inches, they will require more water during dry spells.
   • Most need watering for the first year or two, then an occasional watering during dry spells.
   • Officials say steady rain, warm conditions and only short dry spells are combining to wreck the quality of both cereals and oil seed rape.
   • A long unprecedented spell of dry weather has been broken at last.
   • With the recent spell of cool wet weather, poor stands are becoming evident in some soybean fields.
   • If an excessive amount does emerge, wait for another cold spell.
   • Water regularly during dry spells and spread mulch around plants to keep roots cool and moist.
   • In the past elderly tenants had died during cold spells of weather.
   • But the sudden, heavy rain that broke a dry spell cracked open whole clusters of cherry tomatoes.
   • Despite being in the middle of fall, New York City had taken to a spell of cold weather that threatened to bring snow early.
   • Crops, farms and forests would all be affected by these dry spells, leading to the possibility that some species may struggle to adapt to these new living conditions.
   • Making the most of this fine spell of weather, students have already enjoyed two trips to nearby woods where great fun was had by all.
   • During this very cold spell of weather, parishioners are asked to be a good neighbour and call in and keep an eye on senior citizens, especially those living alone in the parish.
   • In fact he has been very busy over the past couple of weekends due to the unexpected good spell of weather.
   • If we get another spell of wet weather this summer, I recommend it as an escape.
   • During this current cold spell of weather do check on your neighbour - you may be in a position to help them in some small way.
3. 1.3 A period of suffering from a specified kind of illness.
   she plunges off a yacht and suffers a spell of amnesia

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Mr Chorlton and Rogerson had to be freed from the cab by firefighters and Mr Chorlton still suffered sporadic spells of dizziness, said Mr Humphries.
   • He experienced considerable headaches, loss of short-term and new memory, loss of concentration and dizzy spells.
   • It is nice to hear that Bridie is back to health after a recent spell of illness and all her family and friends wish her a very happy birthday.
   • Since the accident, which happened outside her home in Brook Street, Erith, the mum-of-one suffers from dizzy spells and reduced vision.
   • It is known that Albert has recently been experiencing dizzy spells and fainting fits, but he has not sought medical treatment.
   • Burkhard composed prolifically in spite of spells of illness.
   • He tirelessly promotes and fund raises for the club and despite a spell of serious illness, remained involved and totally dedicated.
   • Your hospital insurance provides 60 days of fully covered hospital care, per spell of illness, after you have met a deductible.
   • Each morning she suffered nauseous spells and spent nearly the whole morning with her head in a chamber pot because of it.
   • Sadly however Paddy has passed away last week after a spell of illness and will join his brother in that Lilywhite stand in the sky for Sundays Leinster final.
   • In July 1999 he began suffering dizzy spells, resulting in loss of balance, and painful headaches.
   • Although he has regained much of his balance and co-ordination, he still suffers lapses in speech and hearing and can suffer dizzy spells.
4. 1.4Australian, NZ A period of rest from work.
   Example sentencesExamples

   • Just before this we had an hour's spell so we would be fresh.
   • This spell from the action may well bring the front runners back to the field.

1Allow (someone) to rest briefly by taking their place in some activity.

1. 1.1Australian, NZ no object Take a brief rest.
   I'll spell for a bit

A splinter of wood.