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

The bed-tables were cluttered with signs of a woman’s presence — spools of thread and a wheel of contraceptive pills. —Timothy Crouse, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2025

Undercover police officers visited scrap metal recyclers with property such as copper wire spools, electronic parts and metal items. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 19 May 2025

Verb

The Marathon vibes have been shifting a bit more toward the positive with A) Bungie spooling up some new cool marketing and bits and pieces of content now that Closed Alpha codes are going out and B) opening that Closed Alpha up not to be actually open, but at least no longer NDA. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025

Miles upon miles spooled out under the buggies' tires, wildfires in every direction. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 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