reeling


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reel 1

(rēl)
n.
1. A device, such as a cylinder, spool, or frame, that turns on an axis and is used for winding and storing rope, tape, film, or other flexible materials.
2. A cylindrical device attached to a fishing rod to let out or wind up the line.
3. The quantity of wire, film, or other material wound on one reel.
4. A set of curved lawnmower blades that rotate around a bar parallel to the ground, cutting grass while moving against a stationary straight blade.
tr.v. reeled, reel·ing, reels
1. To wind on or let out from a reel.
2. To recover by winding on a reel: reel in a large fish.
Phrasal Verb:
reel off
To recite fluently and usually at length: reeled off a long list of names and dates.

[Middle English, from Old English hrēol.]

reel′a·ble adj.

reel 2

 (rēl)
v. reeled, reel·ing, reels
v.intr.
1. To be thrown off balance or fall back: reeled from the sharp blow.
2. To stagger, lurch, or sway, as from drunkenness: reeled down the alley.
3. To go round and round in a whirling motion: gulls reeling and diving.
4. To feel dizzy: My head reeled with the facts and figures.
v.tr.
To cause to reel.
n.
1. A staggering, swaying, or whirling movement.
2.
a. A moderately fast dance of Scottish origin.
b. The Virginia reel.
c. The music for one of these dances.

[Middle English relen, to whirl about, probably from reel, spool; see reel1.]

reel′er n.

reel 3

 (rēl)
n. Maine
A handheld hammer used in a quarry for shaping granite blocks.

[Origin unknown.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

reeling

adjective
Having a sensation of whirling or falling:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations

reeling

adj headbrummend (inf)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in classic literature ?
We had to allow for the reeling of the ship to the right or the left.
To think this is giddiness and vertigo to human limbs, and even vomiting to the stomach: verily, the reeling sickness do I call it, to conjecture such a thing.
Scoundrels!" yelled Kutuzov in a hoarse voice, waving his arms and reeling.
He blocked several vicious blows and then smashed back, sending Ponta reeling. He attempted to follow up, but wisely forbore and contented himself with blocking and covering up in the whirlwind his blow had raised.