spun
ˈspən 
; spinning; spins
; spinning; spins
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
informal
: to play records or compact discs
You're spinning at the Pride event at UrbanBeat this weekend—what can you tell us about that set?—
Rich Tupica
Rich Tupica8
: 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
Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
Extracting the starch requires a large quantity of energy and water, so chemists are looking for a more efficient way to spin these nanofibers.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Nov. 2024
Marissa Muller, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024
Go ice skating on Karlsplatz, or take a spin on the antique carousel.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spin 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Cotton can be used for textile-to-textile recycling, however fibers can only be shredded and spun into new textiles so many times before the fibers get too short and quality and strength suffers.
—Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
Extracting the starch requires a large quantity of energy and water, so chemists are looking for a more efficient way to spin these nanofibers.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
Molly Tuttle Molly Tuttle put a colorful spin on the metallic trend in a quilt-like strapless gown covered in pinks and oranges.
—Marissa Muller, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024
Go ice skating on Karlsplatz, or take a spin on the antique carousel.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spin
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 28 Nov. 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
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