Spool

/spuːl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A cylindrical device on which flexible materials, such as thread, wire, or film, are wound.

She took a spool of thread to sew the buttons onto the shirt.

A reel or cylinder that holds a length of filament or wire.

He carefully unwound the wire from the metal spool.

A portion of material that is wound around a spool.

There was a spool of fishing line ready for the next trip.

verb

To wind something onto a spool.

Please spool the film onto the reel before starting the projector.

To rewind or store data onto a storage medium.

The audio engineer had to spool the tape back to the beginning.

Middle English 'spole', diminutive of Old English 'spol' meaning 'a roll in a spindle'.

spool up

To start a process or increase in speed smoothly.

spool of thread

A spool specifically used for sewing or stitching.

spooled data

Information that has been prepared for processing or display from a spool.

reel

A cylindrical device like a spool but typically used to wind fishing line or film.

bobbin

A cylindrical object that holds thread for sewing machines.

spindle

A rod or pin used for spinning or winding.

To spool someone

He spooled me into watching that terrible movie.

Spool up the fun

Let's spool up the fun and hit the town tonight!