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

Inside, massive rolls of aluminum coil are unwound, stretched, and spun on rows of spools and looms. —Noam Levey, NPR, 17 Sep. 2024

That's because the inch-wide LCD panel simulates the viewing window of a cassette player – including spinning six-toothed spools during playback. —Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2024

Verb

Sign up The story of Keira and Max keeps spooling back: to the first human heart transplant in South Africa in 1967, performed by Christiaan Barnard; to the development of life-support machines in the 1950s. —The Week Uk, theweek, 24 Oct. 2024

The Penguin will air this week after receiving rave reviews, exactly the kind of thing WB and DC want to see in the wake of the destruction of the DCEU, and before James Gunn’s DCU has spooled up. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 16 Sep. 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