spin

Study(28)

/spɪn/

noun 7verb 5

Collocations

(noun.) fast turning movement

ADJ

quick, rapid | slow

back (also backspin), top (also topspin)

The tennis player added backspin to the ball and it rolled backward over the net.

VERB + SPIN

go into

The damaged aircraft went into a spin before the pilot could regain control.

come out of

put sb/sth in(to), send sb/sth into

The unexpected news put the whole office into a spin for days.

give sth

The wet clothes need another spin in the dryer before we fold them.

impart, put on

The tennis player imparted heavy spin to win the match against her opponent.

SPIN + NOUN

bowler | bowling

(noun.) on information

ADJ

positive

VERB + SPIN

put on

The company put a positive spin on the job losses by emphasizing new opportunities.

SPIN + NOUN

doctor

The politician hired a spin doctor to improve his public image before the election.

PREP

with a ~

The journalist presented the political scandal with a very different spin.

(verb.)

ADV

fast, quickly, rapidly

The top kept spinning rapidly until it finally fell over on the kitchen table.

freely

After oiling the door hinge, it rotated freely without making any noise.

around/round, away, back

The dancer spun around gracefully as the music reached its final note.

VERB + SPIN

begin to, start to

make sth

After riding the roller coaster three times, the dizziness made the room spin around me.

PHRASES

spin like a top

When the ice skater's blade caught, she spun like a top across the frozen pond.

spin on your heel

He spun on his heel when he heard his name called across the street.

spin out of control

The situation quickly spun out of control when neither manager could agree on a solution.

Definitions

verb

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.

To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction.

To make yarn by twisting and winding fibers together.

They spin the cotton into thread.

Along the Sunny Bank, or Wat’ry Mead, / Ten thouſand Stalks their various Bloſſoms ſpread : / Peaceful and lowly in their native Soil, / They neither know to ſpin, nor care to toil ; / Yet with confeſs’d Magnificence deride / Our vile Attire, and Impotence of Pride.

To present, describe, or interpret, or to introduce a bias or slant, so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance.

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.

In every administration there will be spokesmen and public affairs officers who try to spin the news to make the president look good. But this administration is trying to spin scientific data and muzzle scientists toward that end.

noun

Rapid circular motion.

The car went into a spin.

The skaters demonstrated their spins.

A state of confusion or disorientation.

My mind was in a spin.

A quantum angular momentum associated with subatomic particles, which also creates a magnetic moment.

A novel, creative variation of an existing thing or type; a twist.

The media has been having a field day not only with the usual tired homophobic innuendos (which one has come to expect) but with new spins on queer bashing that might even seem inventive if they were not so hateful.

A favourable comment or interpretation intended to bias opinion on an otherwise unpleasant situation.

spin doctor

Try to put a positive spin on the disappointing sales figures.

noun

Clipping of spinnaker.

“Frank!” Joe yelled. “Run the spin halyard to the cabin-top winch and pass me the free end!”

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — rapid descent of an aircraft in a steep spiral

tailspin

noun — the act of rotating rapidly

twirl
twist
twisting
whirl

verb — revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis

verb — cause to spin

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

spin doctor

To generate spin (a favorable interpretation or bias).

spin one's wheels

To make no progress despite making an effort; to get nowhere.

I've been spinning my wheels on this problem all week, with nothing to show for it.

spin a yarn

To tell or create a story, especially one which is lengthy or far-fetched.

Now I must tell you a little about myself;—or rather, I am inclined to spin a yarn, and tell you a great deal.

spin out

To prolong; to make longer (in time).

After Ashby summit it was difficult to spin out the more than ample schedule allowance.

take for a spin

To test or try out something, especially an automobile.

I kicked the tires and then the salesperson invited me to take the car for a spin.

Example Bank

I spun myself around a few times.

Wiktionary

Spin the ball on the floor.

Wiktionary

She spun around and gave him a big smile.

Wiktionary

The car went into a spin.

Wiktionary

The skaters demonstrated their spins.

Wiktionary

He put some spin on the cue ball.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, spin is marked as figuratively, slang. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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