spinner

[spin-er]

noun

1. a person or thing that spins.

2. Angling.,  a lure, as a spoon bait, that revolves in the water in trolling and casting.

3. Also called spinner play. Football.,  a play in which the player carrying the ball twirls about, to deceive the other team as to where the player intends to hit the line.

4. Aeronautics.,  a streamlined fairing over a propeller hub.

5. British Informal.,  nightjar.

6. Slang.,  a disc jockey.

spinner

/ ˈspɪnə /

noun

1. a person or thing that spins

2. informal,  a spin doctor

3. cricket

   1. a ball that is bowled with a spinning motion

   2. a bowler who specializes in bowling such balls

4. a streamlined fairing that fits over and revolves with the hub of an aircraft propeller

5. a fishing lure with a fin or wing that revolves when drawn through the water

6. an angler's name for the mature adult form (imago) of various flies, especially the mayflies Compare dun 2

Other Word Forms

• underspinner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spinner¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, spinner is from the Middle English word spinnere. See spin, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Below the gap are slowly tumbling asteroids with rotational periods of less than 30 hours, while above the gap are the faster 'pure' spinners.

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England spinner Charlie Dean says the increase in scrutiny the team has faced since a difficult winter is a positive thing for their game.

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It was a bizarre performance from South Africa on a pitch that offered a little assistance to the spinners, but far from anything extravagant, as they simply had no answers to England's consistency.

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For Bell, who could be opening the bowling with spinners and therefore having little time for rest, this has been a consideration.

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England named their Ashes squad last week, with Will Jacks' inclusion as the second spinner the only surprise.

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Related Words

• gyroscope