Word Frequency
spin (spɪn
)
Definitions
verb
Word forms: spins, spinning, spun
- to rotate or cause to rotate rapidly, as on an axis
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- to draw out and twist (natural fibres, as of silk or cotton) into a long continuous thread
- to make such a thread or filament from (synthetic resins, etc), usually by forcing through a nozzle
- (of spiders, silkworms, etc) to form (webs, cocoons, etc) from a silky fibre exuded from the body
- tr to shape (metal) into a rounded form on a lathe
- tr (informal) to tell (a tale, story, etc) by drawing it out at great length (esp in the phrase spin a yarn)
- to bowl, pitch, hit, or kick (a ball) so that it rotates in the air and changes direction or speed on bouncing, or (of a ball) to be projected in this way
- intr (of wheels) to revolve rapidly without causing propulsion
- to cause (an aircraft) to dive in a spiral descent or (of an aircraft) to dive in a spiral descent
- intr foll by along to drive or travel swiftly
- Also: spin-dry tr to rotate (clothes) in a washing machine in order to extract surplus water
- intr to reel or grow dizzy, as from turning around ⇒
my head is spinning
- intr to fish by drawing a revolving lure through the water
- intr (informal) to present news or information in a way that creates a favourable impression
noun
- a swift rotating motion; instance of spinning
- (physics)
- the intrinsic angular momentum of an elementary particle or atomic nucleus, as distinguished from any angular momentum resulting from its motion
- a quantum number determining values of this angular momentum in units of the Dirac constant, having integral or half-integral values S, s
- a condition of loss of control of an aircraft or an intentional flight manoeuvre in which the aircraft performs a continuous spiral descent because the angle of maximum lift is less than the angle of incidence
- a spinning motion imparted to a ball, etc
- (in skating) any of various movements involving spinning rapidly on the spot
- (informal) a short or fast drive, ride, etc, esp in a car, for pleasure
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See flat spin
- (Australian & New Zealand, informal) a period of time or an experience; chance or luck; fortune ⇒
a bad spin
- (business, informal) a sudden downward trend in prices, values, etc
- (informal) the practice of presenting news or information in a way that creates a favourable impression
- same as Spinning
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See on the spin
Word Origin
Old English spinnan; related to Old Norse spinna, Old High German spinnan to spin, Lithuanian pinu to braidExample Sentences Including 'spinning'
But the lying and the spinning won't stop until we get rid of you!Belfast Telegraph (2003)
Don't lay off staff, as their income keeps the economy spinning.Globe and Mail (2003)
He did the only thing he could, cutting the motor to stop the spinning , letting the bird crunch back to earth.Fools Gold
Not that Ibn Battutah himself was in the habit of spinning tall tales.Globe and Mail (2003)
Perhaps the simplest structure involves imagining oneself surrounded by a spinning wall of light.Dictionary of Mind, Body and Spirit
The Walther coughed twice, and the bullet caught Murphy in the shoulder spinning him around.Confessional
The pictures of the surprised, but otherwise unharmed, frog slowly spinning in mid-air are among science's most memorable icons.Belfast Telegraph (2004)
The yacht's engines suddenly came to life, sucking the first diver into the spinning propeller blades.Alastair McLean's 'Night Watch'
They tested the gyroscope by spinning it up to 30 revolutions per minute (rpm).New Scientist (2004)
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Comments
'Spinning (R)' definition based on an original suggestion by tiki-taka made on 2012-06-28.
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