spin

SPIN/spɪn/

Verbspins, spinning, spun

Noun pluralspins

36 meanings of spin

Practice

1
verbtransitive or intransitive
To turn around quickly, turn to face another way, or turn out of control when a vehicle loses grip.
Like a coin turning fast on a tabletop.
The toy top can spin for almost a minute.
She spun around when she heard her name called.
UsagePast form: spun (not ~~incorrect: spinned~~). Say spin around to turn quickly.
Similarrotate, turn, twirl, whirl, revolve
Note
2
new versionnouncountable or uncountable
A new and creative version of something that already exists.
Like singing a well-known song in a brand-new style.
The chef put a modern spin on a classic dessert.
Her book gives a fresh spin to an old fairy tale.
UsageSay put a new spin on something.
Similartwist, take, angle, slant
Note
3
rotationnouncountable or uncountable
Fast turning motion in circles.
Like the way a spinning top whirls around and around.
The wheel's spin gradually slowed after she let go.
The skater's spin was so fast it almost blurred.
UsageA car can go into a spin. Skaters do spins.
Similarrotation, revolution, whirl, twirl
4
make yarnverbtransitive
To twist fibers together to make thread or yarn.
Like twisting many thin threads together into one stronger strand.
She can spin wool into soft yarn by hand.
They spun cotton into thread on a simple wheel.
UsageSay spin wool into yarn.
Note
5
nounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
A way of describing bad news that makes it sound better than it is.
Like saying a long wait is really a chance to relax.
The mayor put a positive spin on the budget cuts.
Voters saw through the spin and demanded the real numbers.
UsageSay put a positive spin on bad news, or see through the spin.
Similargloss, propaganda, slant
Note
6
verbfigurativelytransitive
To describe something in a way that makes it seem better than it really is.
Like putting a shiny cover on a damaged book.
The company tried to spin the layoffs as a fresh start.
Politicians often spin bad news so they still look good.
UsageSay spin bad news as good news.
Similarsugarcoat, whitewash, gild
Note
7
nouncolloquialcountable
A quick try with something new, to find out what it is like or if it works well.
I downloaded the new photo app to give it a spin.
The store lets you give the headphones a quick spin before you buy them.
UsageSay give it a spin or take it for a spin.
Similartry, whirl, test, trial
8
verbtransitive
To tell or make up a story, often a long one with lots of details or one that is not true.
Grandpa loves to spin stories about his years as a sailor.
My little brother spun a wild tale about a dog eating his homework.
UsageSay spin a story or spin a tale.
Similarweave, concoct, tell, invent
Note
9
make silkverbtransitive
Of a spider or silkworm, to make silk thread, or to make a web or cocoon from it.
Like making thread out of glue that dries the moment it touches the air.
Spiders spin webs to catch insects.
The silkworm will spin a cocoon around itself.
Similarweave
10
a ball's rotationnouncountable or uncountable
The turning given to a ball that changes how it flies or bounces.
Like a top that wobbles off to one side the moment it touches the floor.
The bowler put plenty of spin on the ball.
That spin made the ball jump to the left after it bounced.
UsageSay put spin on the ball.
Similarturn, break
Note
11
bike workoutnoununcountable
A workout class done on a stationary exercise bike.
Like a dance class, but on exercise bikes.
I go to spin at the gym before work on Mondays.
Our gym offers a spin class every evening at six.
UsageSay go to spin or take a spin class.
Similarspinning
12
be a DJverbcolloquialtransitive
To play recorded music for an audience, the way a DJ does.
Like a radio host choosing and playing songs one after another.
She spins records at clubs every weekend.
They spin classic tracks at every party they host.
Similarplay
Note
13
particle physicsnouncountable or uncountable
A property of very small particles that behaves like a tiny built-in turning motion.
Like a tiny built-in turning that a particle always carries, even when it sits still.
Every electron carries a spin that affects how it acts in a magnetic field.
The spin of an electron can point either up or down.
Note
14
confusionnouncountable or uncountable
A confused, dizzy state of mind.
Like feeling dizzy after turning around too many times.
Her head was in a spin after the long flight.
The sudden news left him in a complete spin.
UsageSay in a spin or sent into a spin.
Similarpanic, tizzy, flap, state, dither

Less common meanings

15
pleasure drivenouncountable or uncountable
A short ride in a car or other vehicle, usually just for fun.
Like a short walk, but in a car for the fun of it.
Let's take the new car for a spin this afternoon.
They went for a spin along the coast after lunch.
UsageSay go for a spin in the car.
Similarride, drive, jaunt, run, outing
Note
16
verbintransitive
To pedal a bike quickly in an easy gear, often on an exercise bike in a class.
Like riding a bike that stays in one place.
I spin three times a week at my gym.
She spun for a full hour during the morning class.
Similarpedal, cycle
Note
17
aircraft stallnouncountable or uncountable
A dangerous fall in which a stalled plane drops while turning in circles.
Like a falling leaf turning round and round as it drops.
The plane went into a spin and the pilot fought to recover.
A spin can be deadly if it happens close to the ground.
Similartailspin
Note
18
verbintransitive
Of a plane, to drop while turning round and round after losing lift, or of a pilot, to make it do this.
If you pull up too hard, the plane can spin.
The trainer plane began to spin near the runway.
Note
19
verbtransitive
In cricket, to make the ball change direction when it bounces, or of the ball, to do this.
Good bowlers can spin the ball both ways.
He learned to spin the ball away from right-handers.
Similarturn
Note
20
lure fishingverbintransitive
To fish using a turning bait or lure that spins in the water.
They like to spin for pike in the early morning.
Grandpa likes to spin for trout early in the morning.
UsageSay spin for trout or pike.
Note
21
a radio playnouncountable or uncountable
One play of a song, especially on the radio.
Like playing a song all the way through one time.
The new single got its first spin on national radio today.
The station gave the song a late-night spin.
Similarplay, airing
Note
22
go quicklyverbintransitive
To move along very fast.
UsageSay spin along a road.
Similarspeed, race, zoom, whiz, dash
Oppositecrawl
23
pull sugarverbtransitive
To pull a food such as sugar into thin strips or threads.
Bakers spin hot sugar into fine threads.
She can spin sugar into a golden nest.
UsageThe result is called spun sugar.
Note
24
prolongverbtransitive
To make something last much longer than it needs to.
Our managers always spin out short meetings until lunchtime.
The writers spun out a thin plot over ten long episodes.
UsageUsually used as spin out: spin out a meeting, or spin a meeting out.
Similarstretch, prolong, protract
Oppositeshorten, curtail
Note
25
verbtransitive
To turn wet, washed clothes around very fast in a machine to get the water out.
Spin the towels one more time so they dry faster.
My mom spins the jeans twice before she hangs them outside.
26
verb
To shape soft metal into a hollow form by pressing a tool against it while it turns.
27
noun
A bundle of spun threads, gathered as a mass of fine strands.
She left him alone, and went to get Annie a spin of toffee.
1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, Sons and LoversHere, spin means a bundle of thin strands, here of pulled toffee.
28
verb
To keep checking again and again in a loop until something becomes true.
29
verb
To flow out in a thin stream, jet, or thread.
Mount them, and make inciſion in their Hides, / That their hot blood may ſpin in Engliſh eyes, / And doubt them with ſuperfluous courage : ha.
1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”Here, spin means to shoot out in a thin stream or jet.
30
verbslangUK
To look through a place fast.
31
verbarchaic
To fail a student on a test.
32
noun
A failure where a bearing sticks to a turning shaft and spins in its seat, ruining the parts.
33
nounslangUK
A guards' hunt through a prison cell for banned items.
34
noundated
A woman who has never married.
35
noun
A large sail at the front of a sailboat that fills out like a balloon.
36
nounslang
A topic an autistic person loves and knows a lot about.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of spin apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English spinnan, meaning "to spin." It goes back to an older Germanic word.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Spin derives from Old English spinnan. en.wiktionary.org
Old English spinnan means "to spin." en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately derives from an older Germanic word. en.wiktionary.org