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 Rockets' bowlers held their nerve late in the innings as Spirit lost five wickets for 42 balls, with spinner Calvin Harrison impressing again with 2-25.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

India would still have backed themselves to knock off the 231 needed for victory but were stunned by left-arm spinner Tom Hartley's incredible 7-62.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

Peppering the crowd with whips off his hips and crunches down the ground, Buttler brought up his century by pulling spinner Axar Patel over square leg for six.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

At The Oval, England played an extra batter, cutting their attack and omitting spinner Shoaib Bashir - have his short-term prospects just taken a hit?

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

I see Charlie, standing in the center of the kitchen, playing with his spinner, bright colored beads and rings threaded on a string.

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes

While there was some turn for England's spinners on the first day, the pitch appeared easier for batting after a day basked in the London heat which makes Sciver-Brunt's decision to bowl first more questionable.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 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

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

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

“The prophecy says the spinners must assent,” said Vikus.

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• gyroscope