[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/reel/)

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# reel

noun (a reel, reels); verb (reel, reels, reeled, reeling)

«reel» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (noun) A round thing that thread, film, fishing line or wire is wound on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#m1)
2. (noun) A fast lively folk dance from Scotland or Ireland, and its music. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#m2)
3. (verb) To pull something towards you by winding a line: reel in a fish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#m3)
4. (verb) To walk unsteadily, as if about to fall; to stagger. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#m4)
5. (verb) To feel shocked or confused: "My head is reeling." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#m5)
6. (noun, social media) A short video on an app like Instagram. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#m6)
7. To reel can also mean to spin thread or wool into yarn on a spinning wheel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#m7)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, a fishing rod has a reel, and old films were on reels. In Scotland and Ireland, children learn reels at ceilidhs and Irish dancing. In stories, a character reels from a punch or from shocking news. Phrases: reel in, reel off (say a long list quickly), reeling from the news, a cotton reel, highlights reel.

### Examples

- Grandad reeled in a huge fish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#x1)
- Pass me the reel of cotton, please. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#x2)
- At the ceilidh we danced a Scottish reel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#x3)
- He reeled back after bumping his head. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#x4)
- I was still reeling from the news that we were moving. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#x5)
- She reeled off the names of all the planets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#x6)
- My cousin posted a funny reel of her dog. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#x7)
- Reel away, reel away, Straw into gold!’ [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/#x8)

### Note

Homophone: "real" (true, not fake) sounds almost the same — do not mix them up. Past form: reeled. "Reel off" means say quickly from memory; "reel in" means pull in. A cotton reel (UK) = a spool of thread (US).

## In Jewish tradition

It means to stagger like a drunk.

**Interpretation.** The psalm shows sailors in a storm who stagger and lose all wisdom. Jeremiah's cup of wine pictures God's judgment that makes the nations stagger.

### Examples

- He shall die for lack of instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall reel. (Writings PRO.5.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/reel/#x1)
- They reeled to and fro, and staggered like a drunken man, and all their wisdom was swallowed up — (Writings PSA.107.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/reel/#x2)
- And they shall drink, and reel to and fro, and be like madmen, because of the sword that I will send among them. — (Prophets JER.25.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/reel/#x3)

### Note

Homophone: "real" (true, not fake) sounds almost the same — do not mix them up. Past form: reeled. "Reel off" means say quickly from memory; "reel in" means pull in. A cotton reel (UK) = a spool of thread (US).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «reel» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/reel/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«reel» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/reel.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «reel» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/reel/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«reel» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/reel.html) on Mova free.