spell down

transitive verb

Definition of spell down

: to defeat in a spelling match

There's more!

Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
Advanced search features
Ad free!

spelldown

noun

Definition of spelldown

plural -s

: a spelling match that begins with all the contestants standing and ends when all but one have been forced by the rules to sit down after misspelling a word