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

break down , brief , clear up , clue in , decipher , decode , define , describe , diagram , draw a map , expound , fill someone in , get across * , go into detail , illustrate , interpret , justify , make plain , point out , put across , put in plain english , teach , tell , throw light upon , translate , unfold , unravel , untangle , spell