reel-to-reel

adjective

ˈrēl-tə-ˈrēl 

: of, relating to, or utilizing magnetic tape that requires threading on a take-up reel

a reel-to-reel tape recorder

Examples of reel-to-reel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Geese prodigy plays prepared piano on the bric-a-brac tune; Hill contributes vocals, ukulele, celesta, production, and other technical duties that make use, in part, of an Ampex MM1200 reel-to-reel tape machine. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 Nov. 2026

The performance was recorded on an Ampex reel-to-reel recorder. — Donald Liebenson, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026

The moment is warm and human, centered around the sacred ritual of selecting LPs (or CDs or even reel-to-reel, sales of which are surging) from IRL libraries that don’t disappear into the ether. — Ingrid Schmidt, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026

Folsom began recording in the early ’70s on a Sears reel-to-reel, eventually bringing the songs to Atlanta’s LeFevre Studios for a fuller studio treatment with engineer Stan Dacus. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reel-to-reel

• bookmobile
• cochineal
• nonideal
• peroneal
• philomel
• snowmobile
• waterwheel
• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel