spin

1 of 2

verb

ˈspin 

spun ˈspən  ; spinning; spins

intransitive verb

1

: to draw out and twist fiber into yarn or thread

2

: to form a thread by extruding a viscous rapidly hardening fluid

—used especially of a spider or insect

3

a

: to revolve rapidly : gyrate

b

: to feel as if in a whirl : reel

My head is spinning.

4

: to move swiftly especially on or as if on wheels or in a vehicle

5

: to fish with spinning bait : troll

6

a

of an airplane : to fall in a spin

b

: to plunge helplessly and out of control

7

informal : to play records or compact discs

You're spinning at the Pride event at UrbanBeat this weekend—what can you tell us about that set?

—Rich Tupica

8

: to engage in spin control (as in politics)

transitive verb

1

a

: to draw out and twist into yarns or threads

b

: to produce by drawing out and twisting a fibrous material

2

: to form (something, such as a web or cocoon) by spinning

3

a

: to stretch out or extend (something, such as a story) lengthily : protract

—usually used with out

b

: to evolve, express, or fabricate by processes of mind or imagination

spin a yarn

4

: to cause to whirl : impart spin to

spin a top

5

: to shape into threadlike form in manufacture

also : to manufacture by a whirling process

6

: to set (records or compact discs) rotating on a player : play

spin some discs

7

: to present (information) with a particular spin

spin the statistics

spin

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the act of spinning or twirling something

also : an instance of spinning or of spinning something

doing axels and spins

an assortment of spins and lobs

b

: the whirling motion imparted (as to a ball or top) by spinning

c

: an excursion or ride in a vehicle especially on wheels

go for a spin

2

a

: an aerial maneuver or flight condition consisting of a combination of roll and yaw with the longitudinal axis of the airplane inclined steeply downward

b

: a plunging descent or downward spiral

c

: a state of mental confusion

all in a spin

3

a

: a quantum characteristic of an elementary particle that is visualized as the rotation of the particle on its axis and that is responsible for measurable angular momentum and magnetic moment

b

: the angular momentum associated with such rotation whose magnitude is quantized and which may assume either of two possible directions

also : the angular momentum of a system of such particles derived from the spins and orbital motions of the particles

4

a

: a usually ingenious twist

puts an Asian spin on the pasta dishes

b(1)

: a special point of view, emphasis, or interpretation presented for the purpose of influencing opinion

put the most favorable spin on the findings

(2)

: spin control

spinless

ˈspin-ləs 

adjective

Phrases

spin one's wheels

: to make futile efforts to achieve progress

Synonyms

Verb

• gyrate
• pinwheel
• pirouette
• revolve
• roll
• rotate
• turn
• twirl
• wheel
• whirl

Noun

• gyration
• pirouette
• reel
• revolution
• roll
• rotation
• twirl
• wheel
• whirl

Examples of spin in a Sentence

Verb

The car hit a patch of ice and spun into the wall.

The children were spinning a top.

I tried to stand up but the room was spinning.

She spun the silk into thread.

They spun the wool into yarn.

Noun

the direction of the Earth's spin

The ice-skater executed graceful jumps and spins.

A baseball thrown with spin is harder to hit.

She put spin on the ball.

The bowler put a sideways spin on the ball.

Each author puts a new spin on the story.

They claim to report the news with no spin.

He took me for a spin in his new car.

Would you like to go for a spin?

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Netflix spun it, saying that the technical issues were the result of so many people watching: 65 million households streaming concurrently and 120 million viewers tuning in, according to the company’s figures. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024

Billy Wilder, perhaps the greatest classic Hollywood screenwriter, spins a zippy yarn in this sneakily dark yet ultimately affirming story about a lowly employee at a Manhattan insurance company. —James Grebey, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024

Noun

But behind the rosy corporate spin, there were some red flags. —Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024

Hag’s side were left in a spin from the moment Gakpo opened the scoring and it was underpinned by Lisandro Martinez being bamboozled by Salah in the build-up to Gakpo’s second and Liverpool’s third. —Andy Jones, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English spinnen, from Old English spinnan; akin to Old High German spinnan to spin and perhaps to Lithuanian spęsti to set (a trap)

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing spin

• isotopic spin
• make someone's head spin
• someone's head/mind is in a spin
• spin around
• spin a tale
• spin bowler
• spin control
• spin doctor
• spin-dry
• spin-dryer
• spin fishing
• spin off
• spin out
• spin out of control
• spin the bottle
• spin/turn on one's heel
• spin yarns

Kids Definition

spin

1 of 2 verb

ˈspin 

spun ˈspən  ; spinning

1

: to draw out and twist into yarn or thread

spun the fleece into thread

2

a

: to produce by drawing out and twisting fibers

spin thread

b

: to form threads or a web or cocoon by giving off a sticky fluid that quickly hardens into silk

3

: to turn or cause to turn round and round rapidly

4

: to feel as if in a whirl

my head was spinning

5

: to tell using the imagination

spin a yarn

6

: to move swiftly on wheels or in a vehicle

7

: to make, shape, or produce by or as if by spinning

spun sugar

spin

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: the act of spinning something

b

: a rapid whirling motion

2

: a short trip in a vehicle

go for a spin

3

a

: a plunging descent or downward spiral

b

: a state of mental confusion

4

: a special point of view, emphasis, or interpretation

Medical Definition

spin

noun

ˈspin 

1

: a quantum characteristic of an elementary particle that is visualized as the rotation of the particle on its axis and that is responsible for measurable angular momentum and magnetic moment

2

: the angular momentum which is associated with spin, whose magnitude is quantized, and which may assume either of two possible directions

also : the angular momentum of a system of elementary particles derived from their spins and orbital motions see spin echo, spin label