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Glite Dictionary
to spool up

to spool up

1 8.1
To start a machine or computer so it is ready to use
  • phrasal verb
  • Specialized
translation icon : iniciar
  • To begin the presentation, we need to spool up the projector first.
  • spool up the engine
  • spool up the FTL drive
  • spool up our FTL

Examples

  • It's gonna spool up really quick.

    The Fast and the Furious (2001)

  • The FTL is spooling up!

    Blog text (4)

  • In 2011, it's possible to get a logo, a website, set up a store or billing system, and spool up a cluster over a weekend.

    Blog text (4)

  • A few attempts later, and still the same thing: it spools up, the boost gauge jumps up, but there is no power increase, only a decrease.

    Blog text (10)

  • When pulling away from some traffic lights, I over-revved and the turbo spooled up (no more than 3k rev which is more

    Blog text (10)

  • How are we helping them make sense of the complexities and contradictions in our religion, in their faith journeys, and in our faith tradition's history, so that they feel empowered to speak up, participate, talk back, question, interrogate, and critique?

    Blog text (18)

  • Please spool up the printer before starting the job.

  • The technician had to spool up the server to process the incoming data.

Synonyms

to come up
vsto spool up
  • Specialized
262 3.5

To start working after being switched on

usually means preparing systems actively, not passive activation
to fire up
vsto spool up
  • Informal
55 3.5

Turn on a computer or other device so it starts working

focuses on preparing or configuring systems rather than only flipping a switch
to start up
vsto spool up
38 3.0

To make a machine or system begin to work

focuses on technical preparation or system setup for computing contexts
to spin up
vsto spool up
  • Specialized
3 5.2

Start a computer system or service so it is ready to use

is broader, meaning to prepare or configure technical systems, not only computing ones
to crank up
vsto spool up
2 4.4

To start a machine by turning a handle

applies to preparing technical systems rather than manual mechanical action
to init
vsto spool up
  • Specialized
8.0

To set up a device or program so it is ready to use

is broader, covering general preparation or bringing technical systems into operation

Antonyms

to shut down
541 2.9

Stop a machine, business, or system from working

How Ready

to come online
  • Specialized
24 3.7
to spool up
  • Specialized
1 8.1
to boot
  • Specialized
28 4.5
to turn on
550 1.0
to initialize
  • Specialized
1 6.6

Surface Forms

spool up infinitive
spooled up past
spooled up past participle
spooling up present participle
spools up third person singular

Morphology

spool + up

The particle 'up' commonly signals starting/activating (as in 'start up'), so combined with the verb 'spool' a learner who knows both parts can infer a sense of initiating or preparing a system. However, 'spool' is technical and domain-specific (printing/queueing), so the full meaning is partially predictable only in computing contexts and not transparently generalizable to a B1 learner without domain knowledge.

Etymology

Spool up comes from the simple image of a spool, a reel that winds tape or thread, and up showing the reel filling as it turns. When the reel begins to wind and the machine is ready, the phrase came to mean 'to start' or 'to prepare' a system.