I. ˈspin verb
( spun ˈspən ; spin·ning )
Etymology: Middle English spinnen, from Old English spinnan; akin to Old High German spinnan to spin and perhaps to Lithuanian spęsti to set (a trap)
Date: before 12th century
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. : 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 (as a web or cocoon) by spinning
3.
a. : to stretch out or extend (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 (as information) with a particular spin
spin the statistics
•
- spin one's wheels
II. noun
Date: 1831
1.
a. : the act of spinning or twirling something ; also : an instance of spinning or of spinning something
doing axels and spin s
an assortment of spin s 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
• spin·less ˈspin-ləs adjective