4 N‑COUNT A spell of a particular type of weather or a particular activity is a short period of time during which this type of weather or activity occurs. □ [+ of ] There has been a long spell of dry weather. □ [+ of ] You join a barrister for two six-month spells of practical experience.
5 N‑COUNT A spell is a situation in which events are controlled by a magical power. □ They say she died after a witch cast a spell on her. □ …the kiss that will break the spell.
6 → see also spelling
▸ spell out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you spell something out , you explain it in detail or in a very clear way. □ [V P n] Be assertive and spell out exactly how you feel. □ [V n P ] How many times do I have to spell it out?
2 → see spell 1
spell|bind|ing /spe lba I nd I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A spellbinding image or sound is one that is so fascinating that you can think about nothing else. □ Gray describes in dramatic and spellbinding detail the lives of these five ladies.
spell|bound /spe lbaʊnd/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are spellbound by something or someone, you are so fascinated that you cannot think about anything else. □ [+ by ] His audience had listened like children, spellbound by his words.
spell|check /spe ltʃek/ (spellchecks , spellchecking , spellchecked ) also spell check
1 VERB If you spellcheck something you have written on a computer, you use a special program to check whether you have made any spelling mistakes. [COMPUTING ] □ [V n] This model allows you to spellcheck over 100,000 different words.
2 N‑COUNT If you run a spellcheck over something you have written on a computer, you use a special program to check whether you have made any spelling mistakes. [COMPUTING ]
spell|check|er /spe ltʃekə r / (spellcheckers ) also spell checker N‑COUNT A spellchecker is a special program on a computer which you can use to check whether something you have written contains any spelling mistakes. [COMPUTING ]
spell|er /spe lə r / (spellers ) N‑COUNT [adj N ] If you describe someone as a good or bad speller , you mean that they find it easy or difficult to spell words correctly. □ I am an absolutely appalling speller.
spell|ing /spe l I ŋ/ (spellings )
1 N‑COUNT A spelling is the correct order of the letters in a word. □ In most languages adjectives have slightly different spellings for masculine and feminine.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Spelling is the ability to spell words in the correct way. It is also an attempt to spell a word in the correct way. □ His spelling is very bad. □ Spelling mistakes are often just the result of haste.
3 → see also spell
spelt /spe lt/
1 Spelt is a past tense and past participle form of spell . [mainly BRIT ]
2 N‑UNCOUNT Spelt is a type of wheat that was widely grown hundreds of years ago and is now popular as a health food.
spe|lunk|er /sp I lʌ ŋkə r / (spelunkers ) N‑COUNT A spelunker is someone who goes into underground caves and tunnels as a leisure activity. [AM ] in BRIT, use potholer
spe|lunk|ing /sp I lʌ ŋk I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Spelunking is the leisure activity of going into underground caves and tunnels. [AM ] in BRIT, use potholing
spend ◆◆◆ /spe nd/ (spends , spending , spent )
1 VERB When you spend money, you pay money for things that you want. □ [V n] By the end of the holiday I had spent all my money. □ [V n v-ing] Businessmen spend enormous amounts advertising their products. □ [V amount/n + on ] Juventus have spent £23m on new players. □ [V -ed] The survey may cost at least £100 but is money well spent. ● spend|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ Government spending is expected to fall.
2 VERB If you spend time or energy doing something, you use your time or effort doing it. □ [V n v-ing] Engineers spend much time and energy developing brilliant solutions. □ [V n v-ing] This energy could be much better spent taking some positive action.
3 VERB If you spend a period of time in a place, you stay there for a period of time. □ [V n adv/prep] We spent the night in a hotel.
4 N‑COUNT The spend on a particular thing is the amount of money that is spent on it, or will be spent. [BUSINESS ] □ …the marketing and advertising spend.
spend|er /spe ndə r / (spenders ) N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] If a person or organization is a big spender or a compulsive spender , for example, they spend a lot of money or are unable to stop themselves spending money. □ The Swiss are Europe's biggest spenders on food.
spe nd|ing mon|ey N‑UNCOUNT Spending money is money that you have or are given to spend on personal things for pleasure, especially when you are on holiday. □ You can rapidly use up your spending money buying drinks.
spend|thrift /spe ndθr I ft/ (spendthrifts ) N‑COUNT If you call someone a spendthrift , you mean that they spend too much money. [DISAPPROVAL ] ● ADJ [usu ADJ n] Spendthrift is also an adjective. □ …his father's spendthrift ways.
spent /spe nt/
1 Spent is the past tense and past participle of spend .
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Spent substances or containers have been used and cannot be used again. □ Radioactive waste is simply spent fuel.
spe nt fo rce N‑SING If you refer to someone who used to be powerful as a spent force , you mean that they no longer have any power or influence. □ As a political leader he was something of a spent force.