peal
noun
\
Definition of peal
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : the loud ringing of bells the peal of wedding bells
b : a complete set of changes (see change entry 2 sense 6) on a given number of bells
c : a set of bells tuned to the tones of the major (see major entry 1 sense 7a) scale for change ringing
2 : a loud sound or succession of sounds peals of laughter peals of thunder
peal
verbKeep scrolling for more
Examples of peal in a Sentence
Noun
the peal of wedding bellsVerb
the village bells pealed every hour in commemorationRecent Examples on the Web: Noun
According to Allure, the retail site has actually launched some brand-new products just in time for the huge sale, like a Tarte makeup set and a charcoal peal-off mask by No B.S. that promises to be totally pain-free. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Target Announces Huge Online Sale on the Same Day as Amazon Prime Day," 15 July 2018 The evening’s co-chair sported a peal-and-crystal embellished Margiela Artisanal gown by John Galliano, complete with a matching headpiece inspired by the pope’s mitre. — Fox News, "Anna Wintour supports Scarlett Johansson wearing Marchesa to the Met Gala," 10 May 2018 In Game 4 Monday night, James drifted in an 8-footer in the third quarter, on which the ball flew over the corner of the backboard and landed in the net with a whispering swish that brought a peal of thunder from the crowd. — Bill Livingston, cleveland.com, "LeBron James and the toolbox, the repertoire, the sweep: Bill Livingston (photos)," 7 May 2018 Langen gives #2 a tremulousness that’s equally capable of bursting into tears or cheering with a stentorian peal. — Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, "Marin Theatre Company’s ‘The Wolves,’ about a girls’ soccer team, a shut-out win," 21 Mar. 2018 As Maldonado, Garcia and Caballero spoke, their words were often weighted with an emotion that contrasted with peals of laughter and lively discussions coming from several students working with mentors. — Thacher Schmid, latimes.com, "In Oregon, one college tries to make a home for 'Dreamers'," 19 Mar. 2018 His quiet, mischievous sense of humor was always greeted with peals of laughter from those in on the joke. — courant.com, "Mark Edmund Callahan," 30 Jan. 2018 Arranging themselves a few to each piano, these interlopers began to press the keys, too, for a climactic effect that eventually matched the rich, chaotic peal of a full carillon of church bells. — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, "A Long-Lost Composer Is Raised From the Dead," 29 Jan. 2018 Together, these forces gathered strength, peaked, and faded, yielding to the high peals of a lone basset horn. — Zachary Lewis, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Orchestra welcomes new year with stupendous farewell in Mahler's Symphony No. 9 (review)," 12 Jan. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
And the siren peals that pepper the work — originally written for 142 players, but scaled back to a 125-person orchestra in Varèse’s 1927 revision — were plenty loud on Mr. Dudamel’s watch. — Seth Colter Walls, New York Times, "Review: Dudamel and Los Angeles Bring the Noise to New York," 30 Apr. 2018 Jokowi makes the children promise, in a pealing question-and-answer response, to go out and play more. — The Economist, "Indonesia’s president is neither a grubby politician nor a diehard reformer," 10 May 2018 The trumpets and horns, facing off on opposite sides of the ensemble, created an energetic, pealing, antiphonal effect in the final hornpipe. — Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Symphony stirs brilliant waves in 'Become Ocean'," 8 Apr. 2018 That rang a familiar alarm bell in my head that didn't stop pealing throughout JeffBo's time on the stage. — Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, "Jeff Sessions Is Not Donald Trump's Lawyer," 18 Oct. 2017 But this time the guitarist peals a blistering line that seems to run the head melody backward. — John Kaag, WSJ, "How Improvisation Happens," 14 July 2017 The crowd burst into cheers and applause as the last faded away, and bells at nearby Westminster Abbey pealed a noisy farewell to their neighbor. — Bloomberg.com, "Big Ben Bell Falls Silent in London for Repairs Until 2021," 21 Aug. 2017 The crowd burst into cheers and applause as the last faded away, and bells at nearby Westminster Abbey pealed a noisy farewell to their neighbor. — Jill Lawless, The Seattle Times, "Big Ben bell falls silent in London for repairs until 2021," 21 Aug. 2017 A bell peals calling the faithful to gather under an open-air Tabernacle in front of a stage bedecked with green bunting. — Jill Yesko, baltimoresun.com, "Raising their voices: Hymn sings remain a summer tradition at Emory Grove," 15 Aug. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'peal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for peal
peal
noun
English Language Learners Definition of peal
: the loud ringing of bells
: a loud sound or series of sounds
See the full definition for peal in the English Language Learners Dictionary
peal
noun
\
Kids Definition of peal
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : the sound of bells
2 : a loud sound : a series of loud sounds a peal of thunder
peal
verbKids Definition of peal (Entry 2 of 2)
: to make a loud sound and especially the sound of bells.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on peal
What made you want to look up peal? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
A Thanksgiving Word Quiz
-
- November comes from a word for which of the following numbers?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
A Thanksgiving Word Quiz
We are thankful for obscure words.
Take the quiz -
Difficult Vocab Quiz
Another round of challenging vocab!
Take the quiz -
True or False?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
Take the quiz -
Dictionary Devil
The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?
Play the game
Share peal
Resources for peal