spin
spinning; spun; spins; spined
When you spin, you whirl around in a circle. Many kids love to spin on a merry-go-round.
You can spin in a happy circle, and you can describe this movement as a spin. Another way to use the word spin is for a deliberate twisting of information, especially when it's done by politicians. A candidate might spin a news report to make herself look more appealing, for example, or spin bad news to make it appear good. This meaning of spin is relatively new, not being used much until the mid-1980's.
Definitions of spin
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revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis
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cause to spin“spin a coin”
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type of:
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circumvolve, rotate
cause to turn on an axis or center
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circumvolve, rotate
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the act of rotating rapidly“he gave the crank a spin”
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types:
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pirouette
(ballet) a rapid spin of the body (especially on the toes as in ballet)
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birling, logrolling
rotating a log rapidly in the water (as a competitive sport)
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type of:
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rotary motion, rotation
the act of rotating as if on an axis
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pirouette
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a swift whirling motion (usually of a missile)
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types:
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backspin
spin (usually of a moving ball) that retards or reverses the forward motion
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English, side
(sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist
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topspin
forward spin (usually of a moving ball) that is imparted by an upward stroke
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type of:
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gyration, revolution, rotation
a single complete turn (axial or orbital)
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backspin
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rapid descent of an aircraft in a steep spiral
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synonyms:
tailspin
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type of:
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acrobatics, aerobatics, stunt flying, stunting
the performance of stunts while in flight in an aircraft
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acrobatics, aerobatics, stunt flying, stunting
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a distinctive interpretation (especially as used by politicians to sway public opinion)“the campaign put a favorable spin on the story”
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type of:
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interpretation, rendering, rendition
the act of interpreting something as expressed in an artistic performance
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interpretation, rendering, rendition
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make up a story“spin a yarn”
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type of:
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cook up, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture
make up something artificial or untrue
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cook up, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture
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twist and turn so as to give an intended interpretation
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work natural fibers into a thread
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form a web by making a thread“spiders spin a fine web”
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type of:
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create from raw material, create from raw stuff
make from scratch
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create from raw material, create from raw stuff
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prolong or extend
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a short drive in a car
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stream in jets, of liquids“The creek spun its course through the woods”
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types:
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centrifugate, centrifuge
rotate at very high speed in order to separate the liquids from the solids
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ultracentrifuge
subject to the action of an ultracentrifuge
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centrifugate, centrifuge
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘spin'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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