spinning
noun
spinning
American
[spin-ing]
/ ˈspɪn ɪŋ /
noun
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Textiles.
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the act or process of converting staple or short lengths of fiber, as cotton or rayon, into continuous yarn or thread.
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the extrusion of a solution of fiber-forming substances through holes in a spinneret to form filaments.
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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.
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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.
spinning
1
British
/ ˈspɪnɪŋ /
noun
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the act or process of spinning
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( as modifier )
spinning yarn
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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
Spinning
2
British
/ ˈspɪnɪŋ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of spinning
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at spin, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What can the beat-up, worn-out records at your local thrift store do to dodge a landfill and keep the Earth spinning?
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
“Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me” is so loose and shaggy it risks spinning off into tedium, but Mr. Vile’s playing keeps it on track.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
At its best, the restaurant drama can be sublime, possibly the best thing on TV; but the past two seasons have felt like a wasted opportunity, with the story largely spinning its wheels.
From MarketWatch • May 31, 2026
Of the spinning ritual, which was popular among Milanese in the 19th Century, Galli told AFP news agency: "It's probably a charming gesture, but also quite damaging for a work of art."
From BBC • May 29, 2026
I saw my aunts in Yonder, spinning their magic, Ida making rhymes and cake.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
