reel
[verb]
Synonyms:
- stagger, lurch, pitch, rock, roll, sway
- whirl, revolve, spin, swirl

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Related Words: careen, lurch, swaver, sway, swing, weave, wobble, falter, stammer, stumble, teeter, topple, bob, waver

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. reel¹ /riːl/ verb [intransitive]

1. to be confused or shocked by a situation:
Norman’s brain was reeling, but he did his best to appear calm.
reel from
The party is still reeling from its recent election defeat.

2. (also reel back) to step backwards suddenly and almost fall over, especially after being hit or getting a shock:
Diane reeled back in amazement.
The force of the punch sent him reeling against the wall.

3. [always + adverb/preposition] to walk in an unsteady way and almost fall over, as if you are drunk:
Andy reeled away from the bar and knocked over his stool.

4. to seem to go around and around:
The room reeled before my eyes and I fainted.
reel somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verb

1. to wind the reel on a fishing rod so that a fish caught on the line comes towards you:
It took almost an hour to reel the fish in.

2. to get or attract a large number of people or things Synonym : pull in:
The programme reels in more than 13 million viewers a show.
reel something ↔ off phrasal verb

1. to repeat a lot of information quickly and easily:
Jack reeled off a list of names.

2. informal to do something again and again:
The Yankees reeled off 14 straight wins.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. reel² noun [countable]
[Language: Old English; Origin: hreol]

1.
a) a round object onto which film, wire, a special string for fishing etc can be wound:
a cotton reel
a fishing rod and reel
b) the amount that one of these objects will hold:
a reel of film

2. one of the parts of a cinema film that is contained on a reel:
the final reel

3. a quick folk dance, especially one from Scotland or Ireland, or the music for this

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲