spool

UK: /ˈspuːl/ US: /spul/ ,(spo̅o̅l)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

spool /spul/   n. [countable]

1. a rounded object on which something is wound, as on a sewing machine or tape player:
   to wind the loose film back on the spool.

v. [~ + object]

2. to wind on a spool.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

spool  (spo̅o̅l), n. 

1. any cylindrical piece or device on which something is wound.
2. Textiles a small cylindrical piece of wood or other material on which yarn is wound in spinning, for use in weaving;
   a bobbin.
3. a small cylinder of wood or other material on which thread, wire, or tape is wound, typically expanded or with a rim at each end and having a hole lengthwise through the center.
4. the material or quantity of material wound on such a device.
5. Sport [Angling.] the cylindrical drum in a reel that bears the line.

v.t. 

6. to wind on a spool.
7. to unwind from a spool (usually fol. by off or out).
8. Computing to operate (an input/output device) by using buffers in main and secondary storage.

v.i. 

9. to wind.
10. to unwind.

• Middle Dutch spoele or Middle Low German spōle; cognate with German Spule
• Middle English spole 1275–1325

spool′er, n. 
spool′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spool / spuːl/ noun

1. a device around which magnetic tape, film, cotton, etc, can be automatically wound, with plates at top and bottom to prevent it from slipping off
2. anything round which other materials, esp thread, are wound

verb

1. (sometimes followed by up) to wind or be wound onto a spool or reel

Etymology: 14th Century: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German spuolo, Middle Dutch spoele