spool

1 of 2

noun

ˈspül 

1

: a cylindrical device which has a rim or ridge at each end and an axial hole for a pin or spindle and on which material (such as thread, wire, or tape) is wound

2

: material or the amount of material wound on a spool

spool

2 of 2

verb

spooled; spooling; spools

transitive verb

1

: to wind on a spool

2

: wind entry 3

spool the thread off the bobbin

3

: to regulate the transmission of by means of a spooler

spool data

intransitive verb

1

: to wind itself on a spool

2

: to be wound or unwound

3

: to regulate data flow by means of a spooler

Examples of spool in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Despite that, a single person was able to haul it in using a hand spool. —ArsTechnica, 22 July 2025

The black silhouette of a male head and shoulders sits atop a ladder whose rungs are capped at each end with empty spools that might have held the threads of life. —arkansasonline.com, 7 July 2025

Verb

But her sentence keeps spooling outward; following the rules has not brought her any closer to being released. —Book Marks august 7, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025

The thin strands of spaghetti still spool around a lush sauce made of pork, beef and veal, with a splash of cream adding a touch of richness, while pinches of spinach make a vain effort to cut through it with its bitter bite. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English spole, from Middle Dutch spoele; akin to Old High German spuola spool

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1603, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for spool

• boule
• brule
• buhl
• cool
• drool
• fool
• ghoul
• mule
• pool
• poul
• rule
• school

Kids Definition

spool

noun

ˈspül

1

: a cylinder which has a rim at each end and on which something (as thread, wire, or tape) is wound

2

: material wound on a spool