spins
|spins|
/spɪn/
(spin)
rapid rotation
Etymology
'spin' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'spinnan', where the root meant 'to draw out, twist, or turn'.
'spin' changed from Old English 'spinnan' and is related to Proto-Germanic '*spinnaną' and Old High German 'spinnan'; over time it entered Middle English and became the modern English word 'spin'.
Initially, it meant 'to draw out and twist fibers to make thread or yarn'; over time it broadened to mean general 'turning/rotating' and, by metaphorical extension, 'telling or shaping a story'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
one or more rotations or turns (a move in skating, dancing, etc.)
The skater practices spins on the ice.
Synonyms
Noun 2
informal: a sensation of dizziness or vertigo (often 'the spins')
After too many drinks he got the spins and had to lie down.
Synonyms
Verb 1
to turn or rotate quickly around an axis; to cause something to turn
She spins the wheel to start the game.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 2
to make thread or yarn by twisting fibers (traditional/textile sense)
He spins wool into yarn on an old spinning wheel.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/12/19 13:58