Definition of spell
spelled
play
\ˈspeld, ˈspelt\;
spelling
1
: to read slowly and with difficulty
—often used with out
2
: to find out by study : come to understand
—often used with out
- it requires some pains to spell out those decorations
- —F. J. Mather
3 a (1)
: to name the letters of in order;
also
: to write or print the letters of in order
(2)
: to write or print the letters of in a particular way
b
: to make up (a word)
- what word do these letters spell
c
: write 1b
- catnip is spelled as one word
4
: to add up to : mean
- crop failure was likely to spell stark famine
- —Stringfellow Barr
: to form words with letters
- teach children to spell
- spells the way he speaks
