Equal vs. Spell — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Equal and Spell
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Compare with Definitions
Equal
Being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value
1 litre is roughly equal to 1 quart
Add equal amounts of water and flour
Spell
To name or write in order the letters constituting (a word).
Equal
Having the ability or resources to meet (a challenge)
The players proved equal to the task
Spell
To constitute the letters of (a word)
These letters spell animal.
Equal
A person or thing that is the same as another in status or quality
Entertainment facilities without equal in the British Isles
We all treat each other as equals
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Spell
To add up to; signify
Their unwise investment could spell financial ruin.
Equal
Be the same as in number or amount
The total debits should equal the total credits
Four plus six divided by two equals five
Spell
To name or write in order the letters of a word or words
I've never been able to spell very well.
Equal
Having the same quantity, measure, or value as another.
Spell
To put (someone) under a spell; bewitch.
Equal
(Mathematics) Being the same or identical to in value.
Spell
To relieve (someone) from work temporarily by taking a turn.
Equal
Having the same privileges, status, or rights
Citizens equal before the law.
Spell
To allow (someone) to rest a while.
Equal
Being the same for all members of a group
Gave every player an equal chance to win.
Spell
To take turns working.
Equal
Having the requisite qualities, such as strength or ability, for a task or situation
"Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene" (Jane Austen).
Spell
(Australian) To rest for a time from an activity.
Equal
Similar to or the same as another, as in ability
As the playoffs began, the teams were considered roughly equal.
Spell
A word or formula believed to have magic power.
Equal
One that is equal to another
These two models are equals in computing power.
Spell
A bewitched state or trance
The sorcerer put the prince under a spell.
Equal
To be equal to, especially in value.
Spell
A compelling attraction; charm or fascination
The spell of the theater.
Equal
To do, make, or produce something equal to
Equaled the world record in the mile run.
Spell
A short, indefinite period of time.
Equal
(not comparable) The same in all respects.
Equal conditions should produce equal results.
All men are created equal.
Spell
(Informal) A period of weather of a particular kind
A dry spell.
Equal
Exactly identical, having the same value.
All right angles are equal.
Spell
One's turn at work.
Equal
(obsolete) Fair, impartial.
Spell
A period of work; a shift.
Equal
(comparable) Adequate; sufficiently capable or qualified.
This test is pretty tough, but I think I'm equal to it.
Spell
(Australian) A period of rest.
Equal
(obsolete) Not variable; equable; uniform; even.
An equal movement
Spell
(Informal) A period of physical or mental disorder or distress
A dizzy spell.
Equal
(music) Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; not mixed.
Spell
(Informal) A short distance.
Equal
To be equal to, to have the same value as; to correspond to.
Two plus two equals four.
Spell
Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers.
He cast a spell to cure warts.
Equal
(transitive) To make equivalent to; to cause to match.
David equaled the water levels of the bottles, so they now both contain exactly 1 liter.
Spell
A magical effect or influence induced by an incantation or formula.
Under a spell
Equal
(informal) To have as its consequence.
Losing this deal equals losing your job.
Might does not equal right.
Spell
(obsolete) Speech, discourse.
Equal
A person or thing of equal status to others.
We're all equals here.
This beer has no equal.
Spell
A shift (of work); (rare) a set of workers responsible for a specific turn of labour.
Equal
(obsolete) State of being equal; equality.
Spell
(informal) A definite period (of work or other activity).
Equal
Agreeing in quantity, size, quality, degree, value, etc.; having the same magnitude, the same value, the same degree, etc.; - applied to number, degree, quantity, and intensity, and to any subject which admits of them; neither inferior nor superior, greater nor less, better nor worse; corresponding; alike; as, equal quantities of land, water, etc. ; houses of equal size; persons of equal stature or talents; commodities of equal value.
Spell
(colloquial) An indefinite period of time (usually with a qualifier); by extension, a relatively short distance.
Equal
Bearing a suitable relation; of just proportion; having competent power, abilities, or means; adequate; as, he is not equal to the task.
The Scots trusted not their own numbers as equal to fight with the English.
It is not permitted to me to make my commendations equal to your merit.
Whose voice an equal messengerConveyed thy meaning mild.
Spell
A period of rest; time off.
Equal
Not variable; equable; uniform; even; as, an equal movement.
Spell
A period of illness, or sudden interval of bad spirits, disease etc.
Equal
Evenly balanced; not unduly inclining to either side; characterized by fairness; unbiased; impartial; equitable; just.
Are not my ways equal?
Thee, O Jove, no equal judge I deem.
Nor think it equal to answer deliberate reason with sudden heat and noise.
Spell
(cricket) An uninterrupted series of alternate overs bowled by a single bowler.
Equal
Of the same interest or concern; indifferent.
They who are not disposed to receive them may let them alone or reject them; it is equal to me.
Spell
(dialectal) A splinter, usually of wood; a spelk.
Equal
Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all female; - opposed to mixed.
Spell
The wooden bat in the game of trap ball, or knurr and spell.
Equal
Exactly agreeing with respect to quantity.
Spell
To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.
Equal
One not inferior or superior to another; one having the same or a similar age, rank, station, office, talents, strength, or other quality or condition; an equal quantity or number; as, "If equals be taken from equals the remainders are equal."
Those who were once his equals envy and defame him.
Spell
To read (something) as though letter by letter; to peruse slowly or with effort.
Equal
State of being equal; equality.
Spell
To write or say the letters that form a word or part of a word.
Equal
To be or become equal to; to have the same quantity, the same value, the same degree or rank, or the like, with; to be commen urate with.
On me whose all not equals Edward's moiety.
Spell
(intransitive) To be able to write or say the letters that form words.
I find it difficult to spell because I'm dyslexic.
Equal
To make equal return to; to recompense fully.
Who answered all her cares, and equaled all her love.
Spell
(transitive) Of letters: to compose (a word).
The letters “a”, “n” and “d” spell “and”.
Equal
To make equal or equal to; to equalize; hence, to compare or regard as equals; to put on equality.
He would not equal the mind that he found in himself to the infinite and incomprehensible.
Spell
To clarify; to explain in detail.
Please spell it out for me.
Equal
A person who is of equal standing with another in a group
Spell
(transitive) To indicate that (some event) will occur.
This spells trouble.
Equal
Be identical or equivalent to;
One dollar equals 1,000 rubles these days!
Spell
To constitute; to measure.
Equal
Be equal to in quality or ability;
Nothing can rival cotton for durability
Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues
Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents
Spell
(obsolete) To speak, to declaim.
Equal
Make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching;
Let's equalize the duties among all employees in this office
The company matched the discount policy of its competitors
Spell
(obsolete) To tell; to relate; to teach.
Equal
Well matched; having the same quantity, value, or measure as another;
On equal terms
All men are equal before the law
Spell
(transitive) To work in place of (someone).
To spell the helmsman
Equal
Equal in amount or value;
Like amounts
Equivalent amounts
The same amount
Gave one six blows and the other a like number
An equal number
The same number
Spell
(transitive) To rest (someone or something), to give someone or something a rest or break.
They spelled the horses and rested in the shade of some trees near a brook.
Spell
To rest from work for a time.
Spell
A spelk, or splinter.
Spell
The relief of one person by another in any piece of work or watching; also, a turn at work which is carried on by one person or gang relieving another; as, a spell at the pumps; a spell at the masthead.
A spell at the wheel is called a trick.
Spell
The time during which one person or gang works until relieved; hence, any relatively short period of time, whether a few hours, days, or weeks.
Nothing new has happened in this quarter, except the setting in of a severe spell of cold weather.
Spell
One of two or more persons or gangs who work by spells.
Their toil is so extreme that they can not endure it above four hours in a day, but are succeeded by spells.
Spell
A gratuitous helping forward of another's work; as, a logging spell.
Spell
A story; a tale.
Spell
A stanza, verse, or phrase supposed to be endowed with magical power; an incantation; hence, any charm.
Start not; her actions shall be holy asYou hear my spell is lawful.
Spell
To supply the place of for a time; to take the turn of, at work; to relieve; as, to spell the helmsman.
Spell
To tell; to relate; to teach.
Might I that legend find,By fairies spelt in mystic rhymes.
Spell
To put under the influence of a spell; to affect by a spell; to bewitch; to fascinate; to charm.
He was much spelled with Eleanor Talbot.
Spell
To constitute; to measure.
The Saxon heptarchy, when seven kings put together did spell but one in effect.
Spell
To tell or name in their proper order letters of, as a word; to write or print in order the letters of, esp. the proper letters; to form, as words, by correct orthography.
The word "satire" ought to be spelled with i, and not with y.
Spell
To discover by characters or marks; to read with difficulty; - usually with out; as, to spell out the sense of an author; to spell out a verse in the Bible.
To spell out a God in the works of creation.
To sit spelling and observing divine justice upon every accident.
Spell
To form words with letters, esp. with the proper letters, either orally or in writing.
When what small knowledge was, in them did dwell,And he a god, who could but read or spell.
Spell
To study by noting characters; to gain knowledge or learn the meaning of anything, by study.
Where I may sit and rightly spellOf every star that heaven doth shew,And every herb that sips the dew.
Spell
A psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
Spell
A time for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else);
It's my go
A spell of work
Spell
A period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition;
He was here for a little while
I need to rest for a piece
A spell of good weather
A patch of bad weather
Spell
A verbal formula believed to have magical force;
He whispered a spell as he moved his hands
Inscribed around its base is a charm in Balinese
Spell
Recite the letters of or give the spelling of;
How do you spell this word?
Spell
Indicate or signify;
I'm afraid this spells trouble!
Spell
Write or name the letters that comprise the conventionally accepted form of (a word or part of a word);
He spelled the word wrong in this letter
Spell
Place under a spell
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