reel

1 noun (C) 1

a) BrE a round object onto which thread, wire, fishing line, cinema film etc can be wound: a cotton reel

—compare bobbin

b) the amount that one of these objects will hold: Have you got another reel of film?

2 one of the parts of a cinema film that is contained on a reel: a scene from the final reel of `High Noon'

3 a quick and cheerful Scottish or Irish dance, or the music for this

2 verb

1 also reel back (I) to step backwards suddenly and almost fall over, especially after being hit or getting a shock: Diane reeled back in amazement. | A punch in his stomach sent him reeling.

2 (I) to feel very shocked or confused: All these statistics make my head reel.

(+ from): The party is still reeling from its recent election defeat.

3 (I) to seem to go around and around: The room reeled before my eyes and I fainted.

4 (transitive always + adv/prep) to make something move on or off a reel by winding it: He reeled in his fishing line.

5 (intransitive always + adv/prep) to walk in an unsteady way, moving from side to side as if you are drunk: Captain Banks came reeling up the street.

reel sth off phrasal verb (T) informal to repeat a lot of information quickly and easily: Jack reeled off a list of names.