reel - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

A reel is a cylinder or spool that turns on a central axis and can be wound with flexible material like film or fishing line. If you found dozens of reels of old home movies in your grandparents' attic, you'd search for a projector.

A reel is also a lively country or folk dance — or the music for it — from Scotland (Highland reel), or an American country dance (Virginia reel). In the Virginia reel, for example, couples dance in a long line. As a verb, reel means to stagger or sway from dizziness or drunkenness. If an ear infection messes with your balance, you might reel down the hall like you were drunk.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: reel

1	n v	a winder around which thread or tape or film or other flexible materials can be wound wind onto or off a reel
2	v n	revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis a lively dance of Scottish Highlanders; marked by circular moves and gliding steps

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: reel

1

n a winder around which thread or tape or film or other flexible materials can be wound

Synonyms:: bobbin, spool

Types:: filature
a bobbin used in spinning silk into thread; shuttle
bobbin that passes the weft thread between the warp threads

Type of:: winder
mechanical device around which something can be wound

n winder consisting of a revolving spool with a handle; attached to a fishing rod

Type of:: winder
mechanical device around which something can be wound

n a roll of photographic film holding a series of frames to be projected by a movie projector

Type of:: film, photographic film
photographic material consisting of a base of celluloid covered with a photographic emulsion; used to make negatives or transparencies

v wind onto or off a reel

Types:: reel off, unreel
unwind from or as if from a reel

Type of:: roll, twine, wind, wrap
arrange or or coil around

2

v revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis

Synonyms:: gyrate, spin, spin around, whirl

Types:: whirligig
whirl or spin like a whirligig

Type of:: go around, revolve, rotate
turn on or around an axis or a center

v walk as if unable to control one's movements

Synonyms:: careen, keel, lurch, stagger, swag

Type of:: walk
use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

n a lively dance of Scottish Highlanders; marked by circular moves and gliding steps

Synonyms:: Scottish reel

Types:: highland fling
a vigorous Scottish reel; eightsome
a Scottish reel for eight dancers

Type of:: square dance, square dancing
American country dancing in which couples form squares

n an American country dance which starts with the couples facing each other in two lines

Synonyms:: Virginia reel

Type of:: longways, longways dance
country dancing performed with couples in two long lines facing each other

n music composed for dancing a reel

Type of:: dance music
music to dance to