to name, write, or otherwise give the letters, in order, of (a word, syllable, etc.)

Did I spell your name right?

(of letters) to form (a word, syllable, etc.)

The letters spelled a rather rude word.

to read letter by letter or with difficulty (often fol. by out )

She painfully spelled out the message.

to discern or find, as if by reading or study (often fol. by out ).

to signify; amount to

This delay spells disaster for us.

to name, write, or give the letters of words, syllables, etc.

He spells poorly.

to express words by letters, esp. correctly. ?

spell down, to outspell others in a spelling match.

spell out,

to explain something explicitly, so that the meaning is unmistakable

Must I spell it out for you?

to write out in full or enumerate the letters of which a word is composed

The title Ph.D. is seldom spelled out.

verb

abuse , run ragged , use

noun

bit , bout , course , go , hitch , interlude , intermission , patch , relay , season , shift , space , stint , streak , stretch , term , time , tour , tour of duty , trick , turn , while , abracadabra * , allure , amulet , bewitching , bewitchment , charm , conjuration , enchanting , enchantment , exorcism , fascination , glamour , hex , hexing , hocus-pocus * , incantation , jinx , magic , mumbo jumbo * , rune , sorcery , talisman , trance , voodoo * , whack * , whammy * , witchery , access , attack , fit , illness , jag , paroxysm , spasm , stroke , throe , evil eye , inning , watch , chanting , evocation , interval , period , witchcraft

verb

add up to , amount to , augur , connote , denote , express , herald , import , indicate , intend , point to , portend , presage , promise , signify , suggest , allow , breathe , free , lay off , lie by , release , relieve , stand in for , take over , take the place of , bewitch , enchant , enthrall , entrance , spellbind , voodoo , witch , abracadabra , charm , conjuration , curse , decipher , enchantment , hex , incantation , jinx , magic , orthographize , read , seizure , shammy , sorcery , trance , trap , trick , unfold , unravel

phrasal verb

construe , decipher , explicate , expound , interpret