spell
/spel/ (bre, ipa) · /spel/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈspel/ (ame, mw)
spell — 動詞
- spellpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spellshe / she / it
- speltpast simple
- spelledpast simple
- spelling-ing form
1. To name each letter in a word one after another, or to write them down in the ri
拼寫
正確說出或寫出單字的字母順序
To name each letter in a word one after another, or to write them down in the right sequence.
Lucas learned to spell his full name during his first week at school.
Lucas 上學第一週就學會拼出自己的全名。
intransitive: learn to spell
The teacher asked Ava to spell "temperature" aloud for the class.
老師要 Ava 在班上大聲拼出「temperature」這個字。
transitive: spell + word + adverb
Many English learners find it difficult to spell words with silent letters.
許多英語學習者覺得拼寫有無聲字母的單字很困難。
If you are not sure how to spell a word, check an online dictionary.
如果你不確定某個字怎麼拼，可以查線上字典。
Yasmin spelled her grandmother's name wrong on the birthday card by accident.
Yasmin 不小心在生日卡片上把外婆的名字拼錯了。
文法句型
spell + word
spell + word + out
spell + for + person
用法筆記
Can be used with or without an object: 'He spells well' (intransitive) vs. 'He spells his name every time' (transitive). Also commonly seen with 'out' in both literal (say letters one by one) and figurative (explain clearly) meanings.
常見錯誤
2. To be a sign that something unwelcome or damaging is about to come.
預示；招致
預示不好的結果即將發生
To be a sign that something unwelcome or damaging is about to come.
The thick, dark clouds spell trouble for our afternoon picnic.
那些厚厚的烏雲對我們下午的野餐來說不是好兆頭。
collocation: spell trouble
For many local farmers, the sudden frost spelled disaster for their crops.
對當地許多農民來說，突如其來的霜害讓他們的作物全毀了。
collocation: spell disaster
The company's falling sales may spell the end of the entire factory.
公司銷售額持續下滑，可能意味著這家工廠的終結。
When the main road was closed, it spelled chaos for rush-hour traffic.
主要道路封閉後，尖峰時段的交通陷入一團混亂。
文法句型
spell + trouble/disaster/doom/end
spell + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used with a negative outcome as the object — trouble, disaster, doom, the end, chaos, danger. The subject is typically an event, situation, or sign rather than a person. Does not take a that-clause: ❌ 'The clouds spell that it will rain.'
常見錯誤
3. To temporarily take over a person's duties, giving them a chance to rest.
替換；輪替
暫時接替他人工作讓對方休息
To temporarily take over a person's duties, giving them a chance to rest.
Theo agreed to spell his colleague at the front desk during the lunch break.
Theo 同意在午休時間暫時接手同事的櫃檯工作。
spell + person + at + place
The nurses on the night shift spell each other every few hours.
值夜班的護理師每隔幾小時就會互相輪替。
reciprocal use: spell each other
Could you spell me for five minutes so I can step outside for some air?
你能不能幫我代班五分鐘？我想出去透透氣。
Ritu and Tuan spell each other at the community centre every Saturday morning.
Ritu 和 Tuan 每週六早上都會在社區中心互相輪替。
- relieve
more common in American English; slightly more formal
- take over for
phrasal verb; less formal and more widely understood
- cover for
common in workplace language; can mean filling in for a colleague
文法句型
spell + person
spell + person + at + place
用法筆記
The object is the person being relieved, not the task. 'Spell' in this sense is more common in British and Australian English than American English, where 'relieve' is preferred.
常見錯誤
4. To put a person, animal, or object under the power of magic words, making them d
對…施咒
用咒語控制人或物
To put a person, animal, or object under the power of magic words, making them do or feel certain things.
In the fairy tale, a wicked witch spelled the entire village into a deep sleep.
在童話故事裡，一個邪惡的女巫對整個村莊施咒，讓村民陷入沉睡。
passive context: spelled + into + state
The old story tells of a princess who was spelled by a jealous fairy.
古老傳說中，一位公主被善妒的仙女施了咒語。
passive: be spelled by
Ava felt as though the strange old woman had spelled her against her will.
Ava 覺得那個陌生的老婦人不顧她的意願對她下了咒。
The wizard claimed he could spell any creature with a single whispered word.
那位巫師宣稱只需低聲說一個字就能對任何生物施咒。
文法句型
spell + person/creature
be spelled + by + agent
用法筆記
Less common than the noun form 'cast a spell' or the verb 'enchant'. Often appears in passive constructions in storytelling contexts, especially fairy tales and fantasy fiction.
常見錯誤
spell — 名詞
- spellsingular
- spellsplural
1. An interval, usually short, during which a certain activity, condition, or feeli
時段；期間
活動或狀態持續的一段時間
An interval, usually short, during which a certain activity, condition, or feeling continues without a break.
Lucas worked as a tour guide for a short spell before returning to university.
Lucas 當了一小段時間的導遊，然後才回到大學唸書。
collocation: short spell
After a brief spell of silence, the baby started crying again.
在短暫的沉默之後，嬰兒又開始哭了。
collocation: brief spell + of
The old man had a coughing spell that lasted nearly five minutes.
那位老先生一陣咳嗽，持續了將近五分鐘。
Ava felt a dizzy spell coming on and quickly grabbed the kitchen counter.
Ava 感到一陣暈眩，趕緊抓住廚房流理臺。
Tamar planned to stay in Tokyo for a brief spell, but stayed for years.
Tamar 原本只打算在東京短暫待一陣子，結果卻住了好幾年。
文法句型
a + adjective + spell
adjective + spell + of + noun
用法筆記
Often modified by adjectives describing duration or type: 'short/brief/long spell' or 'dizzy/coughing/fainting spell' (for medical episodes). For weather, see the separate WEATHER sense below.
常見錯誤
2. A brief stretch when the weather stays the same in a certain way.
天氣期
某種天氣持續的短暫時期
A brief stretch when the weather stays the same in a certain way.
The region is going through a dry spell with no rain for nearly two months.
這個地區正經歷乾旱期，已經將近兩個月沒下雨了。
collocation: dry spell
A cold spell in January damaged many of the orange trees in the valley.
一月的一波寒流損害了山谷裡許多柳橙樹。
collocation: cold spell
After a rainy spell that lasted two weeks, the sun finally appeared again.
在持續兩週的陰雨天之後，太陽終於又出現了。
The weather report says a warm spell is expected over the weekend.
天氣預報說週末會有一段溫暖的天氣。
文法句型
adjective + spell
adjective + spell + of + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from the general PERIOD sense: this sense is restricted to weather conditions. Common modifiers: dry, cold, wet, rainy, warm, hot, mild.
常見錯誤
3. A period of time during which a person does someone else's job or task so that t
輪班；輪替
暫時替代他人工作的時段
A period of time during which a person does someone else's job or task so that the other person can rest.
Allison took a spell at the reception desk while her coworker had lunch.
Allison 在櫃檯代了一班，讓同事去吃午餐。
collocation: take a spell at
The sailors worked two-hour spells at the wheel during the storm.
暴風雨期間，船員們每兩小時輪一班掌舵。
Aoi and her brother share the cooking spells when their parents are away.
父母不在家時，Aoi 和弟弟輪流做飯。
Each volunteer at the food bank works a four-hour spell on Saturday afternoons.
食物銀行的每位義工每週六下午值四個小時的班。
文法句型
a + spell + of + noun
possessive + spell
用法筆記
Often paired with verbs like 'take', 'do', 'work', 'have', or 'share'. This sense is closely related to the verb sense 3 (DO INSTEAD) — the noun refers to the period itself, while the verb refers to the action of taking over.
4. A set of words thought to carry supernatural force, or the state of being in the
咒語；魔法
具有魔力的話語或受其影響的狀態
A set of words thought to carry supernatural force, or the state of being in the grip of such words.
The witch cast a spell that turned the prince into a frog.
女巫唸了一道咒語，把王子變成了一隻青蛙。
collocation: cast a spell
The children watched the storyteller whisper a magic spell under an old tree.
孩子們看著說故事的人在一棵老樹下低聲唸出一道魔法咒語。
Sirin felt as though she was under a spell and could not look away.
Sirin 覺得自己像被施了魔法，無法將視線移開。
The wizard chanted a spell to protect the village from approaching danger.
巫師吟唱了一道保護咒語，抵禦逼近的危險。
- incantation
more formal and specific to ritual chanting of magic words
- charm
often implies a beneficial or protective spell, not harmful
- enchantment
the state of being under a spell; can also mean a feeling of delight
文法句型
cast/put + a + spell
under + a + spell
break + the + spell
用法筆記
Common in fantasy and folklore contexts. 'Cast a spell' is the standard verb collocation for performing magic; 'under a spell' describes the state. Figuratively, 'under a spell' can mean strongly attracted or captivated.