spell
// spells, spelling, spelled or spelt //
1
When you spell a word, you write or speak each letter in the word in the
correct order.
`Qatar'--`How do you spell that?'--`Q-A-T-A-R'
Ninety per cent of the words were spelt wrong.
VB WITH OBJ
2
If something spells a particular result, it suggests that this will be
the
result.
Nuclear conflict would spell the end of life as we know it.
Any discussion of politics would spell disaster.
VB WITH COMPLEMENT
3
A spell of an activity or type of weather is a short period of it.
She had a spell as editor.
...a spell of good summer weather.
COUNT N
4
In children's stories, a spell is a sequence of words used to perform magic.
The spell of the wicked fairy was broken.
COUNT N
·
spell out
PHR VB