spinning

American  

[spin-ing] / ˈspɪn ɪŋ /

noun

1. Textiles.

   1. the act or process of converting staple or short lengths of fiber, as cotton or rayon, into continuous yarn or thread.

   2. the extrusion of a solution of fiber-forming substances through holes in a spinneret to form filaments.

2. Entomology. the act or process of secreting and placing silk or silklike filaments, as in the construction of a web by a spider or the formation of a cocoon by a caterpillar.

3. Also called spin casting, spin fishing, thread-line fishing.  Angling. the act or technique of casting a relatively light lure attached to a threadlike line wound on a stationary spool.

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spinning ¹ British  

/ ˈspɪnɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the act or process of spinning

   2. ( as modifier )

      spinning yarn

2. the act or technique of casting and drawing a revolving lure through the water so as to imitate the movement of a live fish, etc

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Spinning ² British  

/ ˈspɪnɪŋ /

noun

1. a form of high-intensity exercise using exercise bikes

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Other Word Forms

• nonspinning noun
• spinningly adverb
• unspinning adjective

Etymology

Origin of spinning

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; spin, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Note the bearish candlesticks at the top of the pattern with a spinning top on Oct.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

"It will also be interesting to see how this finding may be applied to assist fiber spinning and other applications that use viscous liquids."

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

They are also the first large CalMac ships fitted with Voith Schneider propulsor units - spinning blades that hang vertically from a drum - rather than traditional screw propellers.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

TAE creates something like a smoke ring of plasma and aims high-powered neutral particle beams at it to heat and stabilize it, spinning the plasma, like keeping a toy top in motion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The spring turned to summer, and instead of spinning and weaving and knitting by fires, my aunts did their work by open windows, waiting for a breeze to come in.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

Related Words

• orbiting
• swirling
• whirling