spell out

verb

1. make explicit; specify in detail (Freq. 8)

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You should spell out your demands

• Hypernyms: ↑specify, ↑particularize, ↑particularise, ↑specialize, ↑specialise

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

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Something ——s something

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Somebody ——s that CLAUSE

2. spell fully and without abbreviating

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Can you spell out your middle name instead of just giving the initial?

• Hypernyms: ↑spell, ↑write

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

3. orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of

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How do you spell this word?" "We had to spell out our names for the police officer

• Syn: ↑spell

• Derivationally related forms: ↑speller (for: ↑spell), ↑spelling (for: ↑spell)

• Hypernyms: ↑recite

• Hyponyms: ↑misspell

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

* * *

spell out [phrasal verb]

spell (something) out or spell out (something)

1 : to explain the details of (something) clearly

The contract spelled out the terms of his employment.

She didn't get the hint, so he had to spell it out for her.

2 : to write out (something) in complete words instead of using a number, an abbreviation, etc.

When addressing the invitations, spell out “street,” “road,” etc.

On this line you need to spell out the dollar amount.

— see also ↑spell 1 (above), 1

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Main Entry: ↑spell