Spinning

6 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spin \Spin\ (sp[i^]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spun}(Archaic imp.
     {Span}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Spinning}.] [AS. spinnan; akin to
     D. & G. spinnen, Icel. & Sw. spinna, Dan. spinde, Goth.
     spinnan, and probably to E. span. [root]170. Cf. {Span}, v.
     t., {Spider}.]
     1. To draw out, and twist into threads, either by the hand or


        machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or flax; to spin
        goat's hair; to produce by drawing out and twisting a
        fibrous material.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses' absence
              did but fill Ithaca full of moths.    --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. To draw out tediously; to form by a slow process, or by
        degrees; to extend to a great length; -- with out; as, to
        spin out large volumes on a subject.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Do you mean that story is tediously spun out?
                                                    --Sheridan.
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     3. To protract; to spend by delays; as, to spin out the day
        in idleness.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              By one delay after another they spin out their whole
              lives.                                --L'Estrange.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. To cause to turn round rapidly; to whirl; to twirl; as, to
        spin a top.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. To form (a web, a cocoon, silk, or the like) from threads
        produced by the extrusion of a viscid, transparent liquid,
        which hardens on coming into contact with the air; -- said
        of the spider, the silkworm, etc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Mech.) To shape, as malleable sheet metal, into a hollow
        form, by bending or buckling it by pressing against it
        with a smooth hand tool or roller while the metal
        revolves, as in a lathe.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {To spin a yarn} (Naut.), to tell a story, esp. a long or
        fabulous tale.
  
     {To spin hay} (Mil.), to twist it into ropes for convenient
        carriage on an expedition.
  
     {To spin street yarn}, to gad about gossiping. [Collog.]
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Spinning \Spin"ning\,
     a. & n. from {Spin}.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Spinning gland} (Zool.), one of the glands which form the
        material for spinning the silk of silkworms and other
        larvae.
  
     {Spinning house}, formerly a common name for a house of
        correction in England, the women confined therein being
        employed in spinning.
  
     {Spinning jenny} (Mach.), an engine or machine for spinning
        wool or cotton, by means of a large number of spindles
        revolving simultaneously.
  
     {Spinning mite} (Zool.), the red spider.
  
     {Spinning wheel}, a machine for spinning yarn or thread, in
        which a wheel drives a single spindle, and is itself
        driven by the hand, or by the foot acting on a treadle.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  spin
       n 1: a swift whirling motion (usually of a missile)
       2: the act of rotating rapidly; "he gave the crank a spin"; "it
          broke off after much twisting" [syn: {twirl}, {twist}, {twisting},
           {whirl}]
       3: a short drive in a car; "he took the new car for a spin"
       4: rapid descent of an aircraft in a steep spiral [syn: {tailspin}]
       5: a distinctive interpretation (especially as used by
          politicians to sway public opinion); "the campaign put a
          favorable spin on the story"
       v 1: revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis; "The
            dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy"
            [syn: {spin around}, {whirl}, {reel}, {gyrate}]
       2: stream in jets, of liquids; "The creek spun its course
          through the woods"
       3: cause to spin; "spin a coin" [syn: {whirl}, {birl}, {twirl}]
       4: make up a story; "spin a yarn"
       5: form a web by making a thread; "spiders spin a fine web"
       6: work natural fibers into a thread; "spin silk"
       7: twist and turn so as to give an intended interpretation;
          "The President's spokesmen had to spin the story to make
          it less embarrasing"
       8: prolong or extend; "spin out a visit" [syn: {spin out}]
       [also: {spun}, {spinning}]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  spinning
       adj : rotating rapidly about an axis; "a spinning top"; "the
             whirling dance of the Dervish" [syn: {whirling}]
       n : creating thread

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  spinning
       See {spin}

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  35 Moby Thesaurus words for "spinning":
     angular momentum, angular motion, angular velocity, axial motion,
     bowling, centrifugation, circulation, circumgyration,
     circumrotation, full circle, gyrating, gyration, pivoting, reeling,
     revolution, revolving, roll, rolling, rotating, rotation,
     rotational motion, spin, swinging, swirling, swiveling, trolling,
     trundling, turbination, turning, twirling, volutation, volution,
     wheeling, whir, whirling