spool

1 of 2

noun

ˈspül 

1

: a cylindrical device which has a rim or ridge at each end and an axial hole for a pin or spindle and on which material (such as thread, wire, or tape) is wound

2

: material or the amount of material wound on a spool

spool

2 of 2

verb

spooled; spooling; spools

transitive verb

1

: to wind on a spool

2

: wind entry 3

spool the thread off the bobbin

3

: to regulate the transmission of by means of a spooler

spool data

intransitive verb

1

: to wind itself on a spool

2

: to be wound or unwound

3

: to regulate data flow by means of a spooler

Examples of spool in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Participants were paid either $1 or $20 to engage in mundane tasks, including turning pegs on a board and moving spools on and off a tray. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2024

The shiplap trim, Jenny Lind spool beds in a soft sage green, and white slipcovered sofas with green-and-white ruffled accent pillows, among other design details, feel apropos for a coastal New England cottage without veering into caricature. —Lila Battis, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2024

Verb

Only Murders in the Building continues to be one of Hulu’s biggest and most culturally relevant hits, and now there’s news about season 5 of the show as season 4 spools up. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024

The engine spools up no less than 621 horsepower and, most importantly in a near-silent heavyweight limo, 664 lb.-ft. —Mark Ewing, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English spole, from Middle Dutch spoele; akin to Old High German spuola spool

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1603, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

spool

noun

ˈspül

1

: a cylinder which has a rim at each end and on which something (as thread, wire, or tape) is wound

2

: material wound on a spool