spin
IPA: spˈɪn
noun
- Rapid circular motion.
- A state of confusion or disorientation.
- (physics) A quantum angular momentum associated with subatomic particles, which also creates a magnetic moment.
- (countable, uncountable) A favourable comment or interpretation intended to bias opinion on an otherwise unpleasant situation.
- (sports) Rotation of the ball as it flies through the air; sideways movement of the ball as it bounces.
- (aviation) A condition of flight where a stalled aircraft is simultaneously pitching, yawing, and rolling in a spinning motion.
- (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.
- A brief trip by vehicle, especially one made for pleasure.
- A bundle of spun material; a mass of strands and filaments.
- A single play of a record; especially, one broadcast by a radio station.
- (UK, prison slang) A search of a prisoner's cell for forbidden articles.
- (dated) An unmarried woman; a spinster.
- (uncountable) The use of an exercise bicycle, especially as part of a gym class.
- (informal, used among autistic people) Special interest of an autistic person.
- (nautical) Short for spinnaker. [(nautical) A sail supplemental to the mainsail, especially a triangular one, used on yachts for running before the wind.]
verb
- (ergative) To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction.
- (aviation, of an aircraft) To enter, or remain in, a spin (abnormal stalled flight mode).
- (aviation, of a pilot) To cause one's aircraft to enter or remain in a spin (abnormal stalled flight mode).
- (transitive) To make yarn by twisting and winding fibers together.
- (figurative) To present, describe, or interpret, or to introduce a bias or slant, so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance.
- (cricket, of a bowler) To make the ball move sideways when it bounces on the pitch.
- (cricket, of a ball) To move sideways when bouncing.
- (cooking) To form into thin strips or ribbons, as with sugar
- 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.
- 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.
- To move swiftly.
- To stream or issue in a thread or a small current or jet.
- (computing, programming, intransitive) To wait in a loop until some condition becomes true.
- (transitive, informal) To play (vinyl records, etc.) as a disc jockey.
- (cycling, intransitive)
- To use an exercise bicycle, especially as part of a gym class.
- To ride a bicycle at a fast cadence.
- (UK, law enforcement, slang, transitive) To search rapidly.
- (transitive) To draw out tediously; prolong.
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Examples of "spin" in Sentences
- The ball began to spin.
- The ball does not spin well.
- Kids like spinning pinwheels.
- At the party, the kids spin the bottle.
- Most of the stabilization was due to spin.
- Filters were the newest spin on the cigarette.
- It is the tangential force which spins the motor.
- All the spin of the electron is due to the neutrino.
- The axle of the spinning wheel defines the spin axis.
- Before we begin, I'd like to define the term spin off.
- I guess that's why the term "spin" is used to describe it, eh?
- It is not the projection of the spin in the direction of motion.
- He turned the can with his fingers and absently watched the label spin around.
- In public relations, the term spin generally "signifies a heavily biased portrayal."
- Can I ask, you guys think maybe the term spin comes from because you roll your eyes when you hear it?
- Austerity is just another word spin that means "we spent too much and now have to tighten the belt or go bankrupt."
- Sometimes I feel as if their spin is a slap in the face because I can see through their one side position, wonder how dumb they are, or assume that we are.
- I was stunned to learn that Jobs, a natural master if ever there was one, had not heard of the word "spin," which had famously emerged in the 1984 presidential campaign.
- The term 'spin off' suggests the relationship between News Corp and Sky News will be minimal, like that between Cheers and Frasier - although, since News Corp will still retain exactly the same percentage of shares in Sky News, it'll be more like if Frasier was set in Boston.