spin

1 of 2

verb

spun ˈspən How to pronounce spin (audio) ; spinning

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 (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)
spinless adjective
Phrases
spin one's wheels
: to make futile efforts to achieve progress

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
For Curbed, Bridget Read spins a cinematic story of deception and intrigue worthy of a blockbuster movie. Longreads, 15 Mar. 2024 This story of the sweet camaraderie between a naive pig and his wise spider friend — with lovable supporting characters like Ram, Goose, and Templeton the gluttonous rat — still spins quite the spellbinding web after all these years. Ew Staff, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 In another slide, Victoria spins Harper on a staircase as their daughter smiles and poses for the photo. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Architecture was also used in film to spin cotton candy visions. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 But Bananarama has spun gold out of staying strong in the face of adversity. Joe Lynch, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024 DJs will spin a mix of Top 40 dance, electronica, rock and more. Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 The three amigos, Dean (Efron), JT (Andrew Santino) and Wes (Jermaine Fowler), regularly spin the Ricky excuse to help them shirk family obligations and catch sports games, concerts and other recreational pursuits. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Alongside her brother and then-husband, Webb spun the concept into Drybar, which has since become a household name and destination for on-the-go reliable hairstyles across the U.S.—and a venture capital darling. Jane Thier, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Gaslight Anthem will cover a Billie Eilish smash and give one of their own deep cut classics a new spin on the upcoming EP, History Books — Short Stories, out this Friday, March 22. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024 Launched in late 2022, Julie aims to put a fun and accessible spin on emergency contraception. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024 While classic white sneakers will never go out of style, celebrities like Jennifer Garner, Joanna Gaines, and Gigi Hadid are inspiring us to give more colorful sneaks a spin, just in time for spring. Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024 But gossip carried on anyway across social media, with some speculation taking absurd spins (like the one about her getting lost at the Willy Wonka fair in Glasgow). Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 11 Mar. 2024 The honor followed on the heels of her BAFTA win for Yorgos Lanthimos’ puckish spin on the costume drama, in which Stone plays a woman who finds liberation and self-actualization after being brought back to life by an eccentric surgeon. Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024 So here’s a whirlwind, extremely selective spin through U.S. history. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Score €500 in bonuses + 225 free spins [SkyCrown] 4. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Lately, runways and red carpets have featured lots of spins and twists on covering one’s arms. André Wheeler, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of spin was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near spin

Cite this Entry

“Spin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spin. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spin

1 of 2 verb
spun ˈspən How to pronounce spin (audio) ; 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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on spin

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