spinner

American  

[spin-er] / ˈspɪn ər /

noun

spinners plural

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.

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spinner British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underspinner
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• spinners
  plural

Etymology

Origin of spinner

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spinner spinners

But 18-year-old left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman sent back the Australian batter for 52 to spark a dramatic collapse as the visitors lost five wickets in the space of just six runs and 14 balls.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Perhaps England could have pushed towards 290, but Axar induced Dawson into a pull to deep square, then the left-arm spinner mopped up the tail.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

The winning runs came when England's spinner bowled five wides in the next over.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

Without Stokes, they chose an extra specialist batter, omitted spinner Shoaib Bashir and fielded four frontline seamers.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

But the spinner is all apart with some of the rings under the table and some under the sink, and the cord is near the stove.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

They are the current T20 World Cup holders but were flummoxed by England's spinners and doubtless their opponents at the tournament will have taken note.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

She played to her strengths by dismantling New Zealand's pace attack flawlessly, including back-to-back sixes off Jess Kerr in the 15th over, while calmly negotiating the spinners with singles.

From BBC ● May 20, 2026

When slime, fidget spinners and other tactile toys started catching on, the company looked to create a product that could compete.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

An interesting quirk to Corteen-Coleman's selection is that she is one of three left-arm spinners, with England already boasting Sophie Ecclestone and Linsey Smith.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026

“However, we know the rats have taken many spinners prisoner. Perhaps we can free a few and persuade them to accompany us. I have often had good results with spinners.”

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• gyroscope