spin
spin — noun
1. The fast circular movement of an object around its own centre.
The fast circular movement of an object around its own centre.
Eri gave the top a hard spin and watched it wobble across the table.
give something a spin — collocation
The spin of the Earth on its axis causes day and night.
A good spin on a tennis ball makes the shot much harder to return.
spin on a ball — sports collocation
The racing car went into a spin on the wet track and crashed into the barrier.
- give something a spin
- the spin of something
- spin on a ball
- into a spin
- a spin of the wheel
- rotation
more formal; describes the circular motion itself rather than an occasion of spinning
- revolution
used for a complete turn around a centre; also means a full circle
- whirl
suggests faster, less controlled movement than spin
Grammar Patterns
give something a spin
a spin of something
Usage Note
Often used with 'give' in the phrase 'give something a spin' to mean 'make something spin once'. The uncountable form refers to the general property of spinning (e.g. 'the spin of a ball').
Common Mistakes
2. The practice of presenting facts about an event in a biased manner, aimed at cre
The practice of presenting facts about an event in a biased manner, aimed at creating a more favourable impression than the truth would allow, particularly in political or corporate contexts.
The politician's team worked hard to put a positive spin on the job-loss figures.
put a [adjective] spin on something
Kwame read the company's statement and felt it was just spin with no real facts.
No matter how much spin the government uses, voters can see the truth for themselves.
The press release was full of spin, so Chen decided to check the original data himself.
- put a spin on something
- positive spin
- negative spin
- spin doctor
- spin machine
- bias
stronger suggestion of dishonesty; often used for media coverage
- interpretation
neutral term for how something is understood; spin is a deliberately skewed interpretation
- propaganda
much stronger; organised, large-scale spreading of ideas to benefit a group
- truth
plain facts without manipulation
Grammar Patterns
put a spin on something
give something a spin
Usage Note
Almost always used negatively or critically, suggesting dishonesty or manipulation. 'Spin doctor' is the informal term for a person whose job is to create favourable spin for a politician or organisation.
Common Mistakes
3. A short, enjoyable trip in a car, taken for pleasure rather than to reach a part
A short, enjoyable trip in a car, taken for pleasure rather than to reach a particular place.
After lunch, Hugo took his grandmother for a spin around the countryside.
take someone for a spin
Ishaan and Sivan went for a spin along the coast road before the sun set.
Erik took his new motorbike for a spin around the block to test the engine.
After the car was fixed, Fatima and her dad went for a spin to make sure it ran smoothly.
- go for a spin
- take someone for a spin
- for a spin
Grammar Patterns
go for a spin
take someone for a spin
Usage Note
This sense is exclusively used with 'for a spin' in phrases like 'go for a spin' or 'take someone for a spin'. It always implies a leisure activity, not commuting or errands.
4. A type of physical exercise done on a stationary bicycle in a group class, usual
A type of physical exercise done on a stationary bicycle in a group class, usually with fast music, where the rider pedals hard without moving forward.
Élise goes to a spin class at the gym every Saturday before work.
spin class
Mauricio bought special cycling shoes for his spin sessions because his feet kept slipping.
After an hour of spin, Esme's legs were shaking but she felt great.
The instructor led a forty-minute spin session that left everyone covered in sweat.
spin session
- spin class
- spin session
- do spin
- spin bike
- cycling
general term; spin refers to a specific indoor group-exercise format
- indoor cycling
more formal term for the same activity
Grammar Patterns
spin class
do spin
spin — verb
1. To move in a fast circular motion around its own centre, or to cause an object t
To move in a fast circular motion around its own centre, or to cause an object to move in this way.
The helicopter's blades began to spin as the pilot prepared for take-off.
intransitive: blades / wheels spin
Christopher spun the globe on his desk and stopped it with his finger on Japan.
transitive: spin + object
The wheels of the delivery truck spun uselessly in the thick mud.
Pim spun the bottle on the floor and waited to see who it would point at.
- spin around
- spin round
- spin like a top
- spin on something
- rotate
more formal and technical; slower and more controlled than spin
- revolve
move in a circle around something else; not the same as turning on one's own axis
- whirl
faster and wilder than spin; often implies a lack of control
- twirl
lighter, more playful; often done with the fingers or by a person turning
- stop
cease all movement
Grammar Patterns
something spins
spin something
Usage Note
Common in both transitive and intransitive forms. The intransitive form ('the fan spins') describes the movement itself; the transitive form ('she spun the wheel') describes someone making it happen.
Common Mistakes
2. To experience a sensation that the surrounding environment is rotating, causing
To experience a sensation that the surrounding environment is rotating, causing a loss of steady balance or clear thinking, typically resulting from sickness, exhaustion, or confusion.
After the roller coaster, Erik's head was spinning and he had to sit down on a bench.
head spins
The whole room seemed to spin when Yuki stood up from her chair too quickly.
Eri's head spun with all the figures and deadlines the manager had thrown at her.
head spins with [information]
The heat and the noise made the room spin around Oliver until he had to lie down.
- head spins
- room spins
- make someone's head spin
- head spinning with information
Grammar Patterns
head spins
room spins
head spins with something
Usage Note
Subject is usually 'head' or 'room'. Cannot be used transitively (you cannot 'spin someone's head' in this sense, though 'make someone's head spin' is a common idiomatic alternative).
Common Mistakes
3. To make thread or yarn by twisting together natural fibres such as wool, cotton,
To make thread or yarn by twisting together natural fibres such as wool, cotton, or silk, using your fingers or a machine.
In the mountain village, the women still spin wool into thread using old wooden wheels.
spin [fibre] into [thread]
Rashid watched the elderly craftsman spin cotton onto a large wooden spindle.
Before factories existed, families had to spin their own thread to make clothes.
Mei-Lin learned to spin yak wool into thick yarn during her visit to a Tibetan village.
- spin wool
- spin cotton
- spin into thread
- spin into yarn
- spinning wheel
- weave
the next step after spinning; weaving crosses threads over and under each other to make fabric
Grammar Patterns
spin something into thread
spin wool / cotton / silk
Usage Note
Frequently used in the pattern 'spin + material + into + thread/yarn'. The verb is often associated with traditional crafts rather than industrial manufacturing.
4. When a spider, insect, or similar creature produces a fine thread from inside it
When a spider, insect, or similar creature produces a fine thread from inside its body and builds it into a trapping net, a protective casing, or another such structure.
A large garden spider had spun a beautiful web between two rose bushes overnight.
spin a web
The silkworm spins a cocoon of fine thread around itself before turning into a moth.
A tiny spider spun a delicate web across the corner of the bathroom mirror.
The caterpillar spun a silk cocoon on the underside of a broad green leaf.
- spin a web
- spin a cocoon
- spider spins
- weave
used for humans making fabric, not for spiders producing webs
Grammar Patterns
spin a web
spin a cocoon
Usage Note
Most common with spiders ('spin a web') and silkworms ('spin a cocoon'). The object is the structure produced (web, cocoon), not the thread itself.
5. To recount a narrative or provide an account that is engaging or amusing, freque
To recount a narrative or provide an account that is engaging or amusing, frequently one that includes exaggeration, invention, or departure from strict fact.
Aunt Sofia could spin a fascinating tale about her childhood in the mountains for hours.
spin a tale
The old fisherman spun a yarn about catching a fish as big as a boat.
spin a yarn — informal idiom for a long, unlikely story
Cyrus spun an elaborate excuse about traffic and broken trains to explain his lateness.
At the campfire, Björn spun a ghost story that kept the children awake all night.
- spin a tale
- spin a yarn
- spin a story
- report
give facts without adding imagination
Grammar Patterns
spin a tale / yarn / story
Usage Note
Often used with 'tale' or 'yarn' (an old-fashioned word for a long story). When used for excuses, it implies the excuse is clever but not believable.
6. To travel or move along quickly, especially in a vehicle with wheels.
To travel or move along quickly, especially in a vehicle with wheels.
The cyclists spun down the mountain road with the cold wind in their faces.
A red sports car spun past us on the highway at well over a hundred and fifty kilometres an hour.
spin past — collocation for fast movement
The delivery van spun around the corner and disappeared into the narrow alley.
Santiago spun along the coastal road on his motorcycle, enjoying the sea breeze.
- spin along
- spin past
- spin down the road
Grammar Patterns
spin along / past / down
Usage Note
Always used with an adverb or prepositional phrase indicating direction (past, down, along). Cannot stand alone as 'The car spins' to mean 'The car moves fast'.
7. To frame news, data, or events in a manner calculated to produce a desired impre
To frame news, data, or events in a manner calculated to produce a desired impression — most often a flattering one — rather than a neutral account, particularly in political or commercial settings.
The minister's office spun the job losses as a painful but necessary step for growth.
spin [bad news] as [something positive]
However cleverly the report was spun, the shareholders noticed the falling profits.
passive: [report / news] was spun
The company's PR team tried to spin the product recall as a sign of high safety standards.
Aisha felt the newspaper columnist was spinning the facts to make the mayor look bad.
- spin the news
- spin a story
- spin the figures
- cleverly spun
- manipulate
stronger negative; implies active dishonesty rather than just skewing the story
- slant
similar meaning but less common as a verb
- report
present facts without bias
Grammar Patterns
spin something as something
spin the news / story
Usage Note
Always carries a negative implication that the presentation is misleading. The passive form ('the story was spun') is very common in media contexts.
spin off
phrasal verbTo create a new company or product from an existing one, or to derive something from a larger source.
The company decided to spin off its software division.
A popular TV show can spin off a new series.
spin out
phrasal verbTo make something last longer than necessary, or to lose control of a vehicle and slide sideways.
The speaker spun out his talk for an extra hour.
The car hit ice and spun out on the highway.
To feel dizzy or confused, often because of illness, shock, or too much information.
After the roller coaster ride, my head was spinning.
The complex instructions made Maya's head spin.
To tell someone a long, untrue story, usually to deceive them.
The old sailor spun us a yarn about sea monsters.
Did Diego spin you a tale about his lost fortune?
To turn around quickly and suddenly, often to leave in anger or surprise.
She spun on her heel and walked out of the room.
When he heard the insult, he turned on his heel and left.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All five words describe circular movement, but they differ in speed, axis, and feel. 'Spin' is the most common everyday word for fast rotation around an object's own centre — think of a spinning top or a washing machine's drum. 'Rotate' is more formal and technical; it is used for slower, controlled turning (a rotating fan, the Earth rotates on its axis). 'Revolve' describes movement around an external point, not self-rotation: planets revolve around the Sun, and a door revolves on its hinge. 'Whirl' suggests faster, wilder, less controlled motion — a whirlwind, or dancers whirling across a floor. 'Twirl' is lighter and more playful, often done with the fingers or by a person turning gracefully. For example: a DJ spins records; a child twirls a baton; a weather vane rotates in the wind; a car's wheels spin uselessly in snow; autumn leaves whirl in the air.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'spin' comes from Old English 'spinnan', meaning 'to draw out and twist fibres into thread'. This root goes back to Proto-Germanic '*spinnan' and further to the Indo-European root '*(s)pen-' meaning 'to draw, stretch, spin'. The physical sense of 'turn rapidly' developed around the 1600s. The meaning 'to tell a story' appeared in the 1800s, based on the idea of 'spinning out' a narrative like a thread. The modern political/media sense of biased presentation originated in the United States in the 1970s, probably from the idea of a 'spin' put on a ball in sports to control its trajectory.