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 verb1: 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 :gyrateb: 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 aof 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 verb1 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 outb: 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: to make futile efforts to achieve progress