spun
ˈspən 
; spinning
; spinning
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
4
: to move swiftly especially on or as if on wheels or in a vehicle
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)
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
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)
Synonyms
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
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
With that in mind, the industry has recognized his ability to spin words and melody into chart hits, lauding him with nominations in both the new male artist of the year category, as well as the artist-songwriter of the year category, at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards in May.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
And someone will have to keep each one of them spinning.
—Caitlin Kelly, WIRED, 15 Apr. 2024
The propellers began to spin with the sound of leaf blowers, the craft reared back, and I was wrenched upward, pinned to my seat, heart hammering.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
And Billie Eilish, in a surprise DJ set on Saturday night at the Do Lab stage, spun some late-2000s/early-2010s pop hits.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2024
Just after dessert, the Young Friends of Save Venice joined the party, and suddenly the dancefloor swelled and swayed to the tunes spun by DJ Olivier Meiji.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
Scheffler had calibrated his sights, cashing in on yet another magnificent spinning approach to roll his third consecutive birdie into the 10th cup.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
When a synchronous generator is spinning, its rotor, which can weigh well over 100 tonnes, cannot stop quickly.
—Benjamin Kroposki, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Apr. 2024
Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2024
Holmes is the latest star to take the tennis shoes for a spin, wearing them on a walk in New York City.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
The crew then headed to Rome for more Challengers press, and Zendaya ditched the extensions in favor of her shoulder-length lob once more, this time with a cute retro spin.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 8 Apr. 2024
Save any herbs languishing in your refrigerator with this smart spin on pesto.
—Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
An adjacent wing is home to the cavernous Fiera restaurant that churns out pan-global dishes with ultramodern spins.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2024
The tour storyline puts a fun spin on Springsteen postponing several of his 2023 tour dates due to peptic ulcer disease.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Protein: Add crispy bacon, a fried egg, or mix and match deli meats for a hearty spin.
Herbs: Fresh basil, cilantro, parsley or other herbs can add a bright freshness to the sandwiches.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
One large influence is the spin of Earth’s core, which has been slowing down, according to the study.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Good feel for independent hands to handle counters and spin moves.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
With that in mind, the industry has recognized his ability to spin words and melody into chart hits, lauding him with nominations in both the new male artist of the year category, as well as the artist-songwriter of the year category, at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards in May.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
And someone will have to keep each one of them spinning.
—Caitlin Kelly, WIRED, 15 Apr. 2024
The propellers began to spin with the sound of leaf blowers, the craft reared back, and I was wrenched upward, pinned to my seat, heart hammering.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
And Billie Eilish, in a surprise DJ set on Saturday night at the Do Lab stage, spun some late-2000s/early-2010s pop hits.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 15 Apr. 2024
Just after dessert, the Young Friends of Save Venice joined the party, and suddenly the dancefloor swelled and swayed to the tunes spun by DJ Olivier Meiji.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
Scheffler had calibrated his sights, cashing in on yet another magnificent spinning approach to roll his third consecutive birdie into the 10th cup.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024
When a synchronous generator is spinning, its rotor, which can weigh well over 100 tonnes, cannot stop quickly.
—Benjamin Kroposki, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Apr. 2024
Noun
Read more Brittany Mahomes Is Inventing the Mob WAG Aesthetic Before Our Very Eyes
Brittany Mahomes, wife of Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, never fails to put her own spin on game-day style.
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 11 Apr. 2024
Holmes is the latest star to take the tennis shoes for a spin, wearing them on a walk in New York City.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
The crew then headed to Rome for more Challengers press, and Zendaya ditched the extensions in favor of her shoulder-length lob once more, this time with a cute retro spin.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 8 Apr. 2024
Save any herbs languishing in your refrigerator with this smart spin on pesto.
—Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
An adjacent wing is home to the cavernous Fiera restaurant that churns out pan-global dishes with ultramodern spins.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2024
The tour storyline puts a fun spin on Springsteen postponing several of his 2023 tour dates due to peptic ulcer disease.
—Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Protein: Add crispy bacon, a fried egg, or mix and match deli meats for a hearty spin.
Herbs: Fresh basil, cilantro, parsley or other herbs can add a bright freshness to the sandwiches.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
One large influence is the spin of Earth’s core, which has been slowing down, according to the study.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 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.
Articles Related to spin
Dictionary Entries Near spin
Cite this Entry
“Spin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spin. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spin
1 of 2 verb
spun
ˈspən
; spinning
; 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 noun1
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
noun1
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share