reel-to-reel

noun

A machine that records sound onto, or plays sound from, tape wound on one reel, by feeding it through to another reel.

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Meanings

nounreel-to-reel (plural reel-to-reels)

plural reel-to-reels

  1. A machine that records sound onto, or plays sound from, tape wound on one reel, by feeding it through to another reel.

    Costume changes performed with poise / Dancing in formation with a couple of boys / I take them on the road with my reel-to-reels / I'm an artist, honey, you know how that feels?

    1996, “Electricity”, in Bilingual, performed by Pet Shop Boys

Origin

Originally descriptive, used in reel-to-reel recorder and like phrases, then shortened.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

reel-to-reel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reel-to-reel

MLA

“reel-to-reel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reel-to-reel. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “reel-to-reel,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reel-to-reel.

Source: reel-to-reel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.