spinner

American  

[spin-er] / ˈspɪn ər /

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.

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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

• underspinner noun

Etymology

Origin of spinner

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

Example Sentences

Lancashire left-arm spinner Tom Hartley, who has not added to his five Test caps since the 2024 tour of India, was with the Lions in Australia, and do not forget Somerset's Jack Leach.

From BBC

Australia have not picked a frontline spinner and, when the pitch began to turn, they employed Webster.

From BBC

Jacob Bethell looked like England's best spinner and bowled seven more overs than Jacks – the man chosen to bowl spin.

From BBC

In omitting off-spinner Todd Murphy, Australia opted against selecting a specialist spinner in a Sydney Test for the first time since 1888.

From BBC

It is the first time in almost 140 years that the hosts have not played a front-line spinner during a Sydney Test.

From Barron's

Related Words

• gyroscope