English
spin
Pronunciation Etymology 1

From Middle English spinnen, from Old English spinnan, from Proto-Germanic *spinnaną, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)penh₁-.

Verb

spin (spins, present participle spinning; simple past spun, past participle spun)

  1. (ergative) To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction.
    I spun myself around a few times.
    Spin the ball on the floor.
    She spun around and gave him a big smile.
    1. (aviation, of an aircraft) To enter, or remain in, a spin (abnormal stalled flight mode).
    2. (aviation, of a pilot) To cause one's aircraft to enter or remain in a spin (abnormal stalled flight mode).
  2. (transitive) To make yarn by twisting and winding fibers together.
    They spin the cotton into thread.
  3. (figurative) To present, describe, or interpret, or to introduce a bias or slant, so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance.
    Synonyms: whitewash, sugarcoat, put lipstick on, gild, blandish, dress up
    • 1643, John Milton, Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce:
      But because he is but briefe, and these things of great consequence not to be kept obscure, I shall conceave it nothing above my duty either for the difficulty or the censure that may passe thereon, to communicate such thoughts as I also have had, and do offer them now in this generall labour of reformation, to the candid view both of Church and Magistrate; especially because I see it the hope of good men, that those irregular and unspirituall Courts have spun their utmost date in this Land; and some beter course must now be constituted.
  4. (cricket, of a bowler) To make the ball move sideways when it bounces on the pitch.
  5. (cricket, of a ball) To move sideways when bouncing.
  6. (cooking) To form into thin strips or ribbons, as with sugar
  7. To form (a web, a cocoon, silk, etc.) from threads produced by the extrusion of a viscid, transparent liquid, which hardens on coming into contact with the air; said of the spider, the silkworm, etc.
  8. To shape, as malleable sheet metal, into a hollow form, by bending or buckling it by pressing against it with a smooth hand tool or roller while the metal revolves, as in a lathe.
  9. To move swiftly.
    to spin along the road in a carriage, on a bicycle, etc.
  10. To stream or issue in a thread or a small current or jet.
    Blood spins from a vein.
    • 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene ii], page 86 ↗, column 1:
      Mount them, and make inciſion in their Hides, / That their hot blood may ſpin in Engliſh eyes, / And doubt them with ſuperfluous courage : ha.
  11. (computing, programming, intransitive) To wait in a loop until some condition becomes true.
  12. (transitive, informal) To play (vinyl records, etc.) as a disc jockey.
  13. (cycling, intransitive)
    1. To use an exercise bicycle, especially as part of a gym class.
    2. To ride a bicycle at a fast cadence.
  14. (UK, police, slang, transitive) To search rapidly.
    • 2013, Nick Oldham, Psycho Alley:
      But then again, unless someone struck lucky in those first few hours, there weren't even enough detectives to spin a drum [house].
  15. (transitive) To draw out tediously; prolong.
    Synonyms: spin out
    to spin a yarn
  16. (angling) To fish with a swivel or spoonbait.
  17. (archaic, transitive, slang) To reject at an examination; to fail (a student).
Translations Translations Translations Translations
  • Portuguese: pinotar
Translations Translations Noun

spin

  1. Rapid circular motion.
    The car went into a spin.
    The skaters demonstrated their spins.
    He put some spin on the cue ball.
  2. A state of confusion or disorientation.
    My mind was in a spin.
  3. (quantum mechanics) A quantum angular momentum associated with subatomic particles, which also creates a magnetic moment.
  4. A novel, creative variation of an existing thing or type; a twist.
  5. (countable, uncountable) A favourable comment or interpretation intended to bias opinion on an otherwise unpleasant situation.
    Coordinate terms: coloration, distortion, propaganda
    Try to put a positive spin on the disappointing sales figures.
    The politician was mocked in the press for his reliance on spin rather than facts.
  6. (sports) Rotation of the ball as it flies through the air; sideways movement of the ball as it bounces.
    Synonyms: swazz
  7. (aviation) A condition of flight where a stalled aircraft is simultaneously pitching, yawing and rolling in a spinning motion.
  8. (mechanical engineering) An abnormal condition in journal bearings where the bearing seizes to the rotating shaft and rotates inside the journal, destroying both the shaft and the journal.
  9. A brief trip by vehicle, especially one made for pleasure.
    I'm off out for a spin in my new sports car.
  10. A bundle of spun material; a mass of strands and filaments.
    • 1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter 1, in Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC ↗:
      She left him alone, and went to get Annie a spin of toffee.
  11. A single play of a record; especially, one broadcast by a radio station.
    Let's give this classic LP another spin.
  12. (UK, prison slang) A search of a prisoner's cell for forbidden articles.
    • 2002, Jeffrey Archer, A Prison Diary:
      Mr Weedon explains that this is a cell search - known by prisoners as a spin - and for obvious reasons it has to be carried out without any warning.
  13. (dated) An unmarried woman; a spinster.
    • 1893, Bithia Mary Croker, "To Let" in "To Let" etc., Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1906, p. 1,
      Some years ago, when I was a slim young spin, I came out to India to live with my brother Tom […]
  14. (uncountable) The use of an exercise bicycle, especially as part of a gym class.
Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Noun

spin (plural spins)

  1. (nautical) Short for spinnaker.
    • 2021 22 April, “jdale” (username), Course for Catastrophe ↗, chapter 4:
      “Frank!” Joe yelled. “Run the spin halyard to the cabin-top winch and pass me the free end!”
Etymology 3

Shortening of special interest.

Noun

spin (plural spins)

  1. (informal, used among autistic people) Special interest of an autistic person.


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