spin

[ spin ]

/ spɪn /

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See synonyms for: spin / span / spinning / spun on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), spun or (Archaic) span, spun, spin·ning.

to make (yarn) by drawing out, twisting, and winding fibers: Pioneer women spun yarn on spinning wheels.

to form (the fibers of any material) into thread or yarn: The machine spins nylon thread.

(of spiders, silkworms, etc.) to produce (a thread, cobweb, gossamer, silk, etc.) by extruding from the body a long, slender filament of a natural viscous matter that hardens in the air.

to cause to turn around rapidly, as on an axis; twirl; whirl: to spin a coin on a table.

Informal. to play (phonograph records): a job spinning records on a radio show.

Metalworking. to shape (sheet metal) into a hollow, rounded form by pressure from a tool while rotating the metal on a lathe or wheel.

to produce, fabricate, or evolve in a manner suggestive of spinning thread: to spin a tale of sailing ships and bygone days.

Rocketry. to cause intentionally (a rocket or guided missile) to undergo a roll.

to draw out, protract, or prolong (often followed by out): He spun the project out for over three years.

British. to flunk a student in an examination or a term's work.

Slang. to cause to have a particular bias; influence in a certain direction: His assignment was to spin the reporters after the president's speech.

verb (used without object), spun or (Archaic) span, spun, spin·ning.

to revolve or rotate rapidly, as the earth or a top.

to produce a thread from the body, as spiders or silkworms.

to produce yarn or thread by spinning.

to move, go, run, ride, or travel rapidly.

to have a sensation of whirling; reel: My head began to spin and I fainted.

to fish with a spinning or revolving bait.

noun

the act of causing a spinning or whirling motion.

a spinning motion given to a ball, wheel, axle, or other object.

a downward movement or trend, especially one that is sudden, alarming, etc.: Steel prices went into a spin.

a rapid run, ride, drive, or the like, as for exercise or enjoyment: They went for a spin in the car.

Slang. a particular viewpoint or bias, especially in the media; slant: They tried to put a favorable spin on the news coverage of the controversial speech.

Also called tailspin, tail spin .Aeronautics. a maneuver in which an airplane descends in a vertical direction along a helical path of large pitch and small radius at an angle of attack greater than the critical angle, dangerous when not done intentionally or under control.

Rocketry.

the act of intentionally causing a rocket or guided missile to undergo a roll.
a roll so caused.

Also called spin angular momentum .Physics. the intrinsic angular momentum characterizing each kind of elementary particle, having one of the values 0, 1/2, 1/3, … when measured in units of Planck's constant divided by 2π.

Australian. a run of luck; fate.

Verb Phrases

spin off,

to create something new, as a company or assets, without detracting from or affecting the relative size or stability of the original: After the acquisition, the company was required to spin off about a third of its assets.
to derive from or base on something done previously: They took the character of the maid and spun off another TV series.

OTHER WORDS FOR spin

7 develop, narrate, relate.

9 extend, lengthen.

12 gyrate.

See synonyms for spin on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about spin

spin one's wheels. wheel (def. 27).

spin out, (of an automobile) to undergo a spinout.

Origin of spin

First recorded before 900; Middle English spinnen “to spin yarn,” Old English spinnan; cognate with Dutch, German spinnen,Old Norse spinna,Gothic spinnan

synonym study for spin

12. See turn.

OTHER WORDS FROM spin

spin·na·bil·i·ty, nounspin·na·ble, adjectiveoutspin, verb (used with object), out·spun, out·spin·ning.un·spin·na·ble, adjective

Words nearby spin

spill the beans, spillway, spilt, spilth, spim, spin, spina, spina bifida, spinaceous, spinach, spinach-rhubarb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use spin in a sentence

There are days as a PR person you’re going out there and, yes, you cherry-pick facts to put the best spin on stuff.
Full Transcript: Sean Spicer on ‘The Carlos Watson Show’|Daniel Malloy|August 26, 2020|Ozy
Judges often guess the number of flips or spins based on how long the athlete stayed in the air and what position he or she landed in.
A robot referee can really keep its ‘eye’ on the ball|Kathryn Hulick|August 20, 2020|Science News For Students
However, we found that15 LHPs generally have had lower spin rates on their pitches, both fastballs and off-speed pitches.
What Really Gives Left-Handed Pitchers Their Edge?|Guy Molyneux|August 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Pitcher Caleb Smith has elite spin and movement, allowing him to strike out better than a batter per inning for his three-year career.
The Dodgers Lead Our National League Predictions, But Don’t Count Out The Nats Or … Reds?|Travis Sawchik|July 22, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

Cisco’s social media strategists have however put a new spin on the B2B Snapchat social media experience.
How to plan your social media strategy for any business|Sumeet Anand|June 24, 2020|Search Engine Watch
The effort to sterilize his image first began when Epstein hired Los Angeles-based spin doctors Sitrick Co.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Although he brings a Western spin to things, he seems equally inspired by the local sense of style.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech|Liza Foreman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Spin control began, Florida-style: the opinion only covers some counties, some people, some times.
The Back Alley, Low Blow-Ridden Fight to Stop Gay Marriage in Florida Is Finally Over|Jay Michaelson|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
David Greenberg at Rutgers University has a book coming out next year on political spin.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Aaron Paul may play a young Han Solo in the first Star Wars spin-off.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones)|Rich Goldstein|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
You can probably realize just how headquarters would take the sort of yarn we'd spin if we dashed in and told them the truth.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
"Let us go down the shore a bit," suggested Jack to Pepper and Andy, and the three joined hands for the spin.
The Mystery at Putnam Hall|Arthur M. Winfield
The women of the interior spin and weave for their household, and they also embroider very beautifully.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
Neither of us had the advantage for the moment, so I went in for a quick wristlock and spin.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
It was as if she could spin it out by interposing between the moment and its end a series of insignificant acts.
The Creators|May Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for spin

spin

/ (spɪn) /

verb spins, spinning or spun

to rotate or cause to rotate rapidly, as on an axis

to draw out and twist (natural fibres, as of silk or cotton) into a long continuous thread
to make such a thread or filament from (synthetic resins, etc), usually by forcing through a nozzle

(of spiders, silkworms, etc) to form (webs, cocoons, etc) from a silky fibre exuded from the body

(tr) to shape (metal) into a rounded form on a lathe

(tr) informal to tell (a tale, story, etc) by drawing it out at great length (esp in the phrase spin a yarn)

to bowl, pitch, hit, or kick (a ball) so that it rotates in the air and changes direction or speed on bouncing, or (of a ball) to be projected in this way

(intr) (of wheels) to revolve rapidly without causing propulsion

to cause (an aircraft) to dive in a spiral descent or (of an aircraft) to dive in a spiral descent

(intr foll by along) to drive or travel swiftly

Also: spin-dry (tr) to rotate (clothes) in a washing machine in order to extract surplus water

(intr) to reel or grow dizzy, as from turning aroundmy head is spinning

(intr) to fish by drawing a revolving lure through the water

(intr) informal to present news or information in a way that creates a favourable impression

noun

a swift rotating motion; instance of spinning

physics

the intrinsic angular momentum of an elementary particle or atomic nucleus, as distinguished from any angular momentum resulting from its motion
a quantum number determining values of this angular momentum in units of the Dirac constant, having integral or half-integral valuesSymbol: S, s

a condition of loss of control of an aircraft or an intentional flight manoeuvre in which the aircraft performs a continuous spiral descent because the angle of maximum lift is less than the angle of incidence

a spinning motion imparted to a ball, etc

(in skating) any of various movements involving spinning rapidly on the spot

informal a short or fast drive, ride, etc, esp in a car, for pleasure

flat spin informal, mainly British a state of agitation or confusion

Australian and NZ informal a period of time or an experience; chance or luck; fortunea bad spin

commerce informal a sudden downward trend in prices, values, etc

informal the practice of presenting news or information in a way that creates a favourable impression

on the spin informal one after anotherthey have lost two finals on the spin

Word Origin for spin

Old English spinnan; related to Old Norse spinna, Old High German spinnan to spin, Lithuanian pinu to braid

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for spin

spin

[ spĭn ]

The intrinsic angular momentum of a rigid body or particle, especially a subatomic particle. Also called spin angular momentum

The total angular momentum of a physical system, such as an electron orbital or an atomic nucleus.

A quantum number expressing spin angular momentum; the actual angular momentum is a quantum number multiplied by Dirac's constant. Fermions have spin values that are integer multiples of 12, while bosons have spin values that are integer multiples of 1.

Other Idioms and Phrases with spin

spin

In addition to the idioms beginning with spin

spin a yarn
spin control
spin doctor
spin off
spin one's wheels
spin out

also see:

go into a tailspin
make one's head spin
put a spin on

spin

OTHER WORDS FOR spin

Idioms about spin

Origin of spin

synonym study for spin

OTHER WORDS FROM spin

Words nearby spin

Words related to spin

How to use spin in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spin

Word Origin for spin

Scientific definitions for spin

Other Idioms and Phrases with spin