|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
spin
spin / spin/ • v. (spin·ning ; past and past part. spun / spən/ ) 1. turn or cause to turn or whirl around quickly: [intr.] the girl spun around in alarm the rear wheels spun violently | [tr.] he fiddled with the radio, spinning the dial. ∎ [intr.] (of a person's head) give a sensation of dizziness: the figures were enough to make her head spin. ∎ [tr.] chiefly Cricket impart a revolving motion to (a ball) when bowling. ∎ [intr.] (of a ball) move through the air with such a revolving motion. ∎ [tr.] give (a news story or other information) a particular interpretation, esp. a favorable one. ∎ [tr.] shape (sheet metal) by pressure applied during rotation on a lathe: [as adj.] (spun) spun metal components. 2. [tr.] draw out (wool, cotton, or other material) and convert it into threads, either by hand or with machinery: they spin wool into the yarn for weaving | [as adj.] (spun) spun glass. ∎ make (threads) in this way: this method is used to spin filaments from syrups. ∎ (of a spider or a silkworm or other insect) produce (gossamer or silk) or construct (a web or cocoon) by extruding a fine viscous thread from a special gland. 3. [intr.] fish with a spinner: they were spinning for salmon in the lake. • n. 1. a rapid turning or whirling motion: he concluded the dance with a double spin. ∎ revolving motion imparted to a ball in a game such as baseball, cricket, tennis, or billiards: this racket enables the player to impart more spin to the ball ∎ [in sing.] a particular bias, interpretation, or point of view, intended to create a favorable (or sometimes, unfavorable) impression when presented to the public: he tried to put a positive spin on the president's campaign. ∎ [usu. in sing.] a fast revolving motion of an aircraft as it descends rapidly: he tried to stop the plane from going into a spin. ∎ Physics the intrinsic angular momentum of a subatomic particle. 2. [in sing.] inf. a brief trip in a vehicle for pleasure: a spin around town. PHRASES: spin one's wheels inf. waste one's time or efforts. spin a yarn tell a long, far-fetched story.PHRASAL VERBS: spin something off (of a parent company) turn a subsidiary into a new and separate company. spin out (of a driver or car) lose control, esp. in a skid. spin something out make something last as long as possible: they seem keen to spin out the debate through their speeches and interventions. ∎ spend or occupy time aimlessly or without profit: Shane and Mary played games to spin out the afternoon. ORIGIN: Old English spinnan ‘draw out and twist (fiber)’; related to German spinnen. The noun dates from the mid 19th cent. |
|
|
Cite this article
"spin." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "spin." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-spin.html "spin." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-spin.html |
|
spin
spin v. spinning; past and past part. spun
1. turn or cause to turn or whirl around quickly: 2. give (a news story) a favorable emphasis or slant. n. 1. a rapid turning or whirling motion: he concluded the dance with a double spin. 2. a favorable bias or slant in a news story: he tried to put a positive spin on the president's campaign. 3. a fast revolving motion of an aircraft as it descends rapidly: he tried to stop the plane from going into a spin. spin one's wheels informal waste one's time or efforts. spin a yarn tell a long, far-fetched story. |
|
|
Cite this article
"spin." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "spin." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-spin.html "spin." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-spin.html |
|
spin
spin (symbol s) A property of many subatomic particles, which behave as though they are spinning, as they have angular momentum that is additional to any orbital angular momentum. However, since there is no way of marking a particle to observe its rotation, this property should not be taken too literally. The units of spin are h/2 π, where h is the Planck constant.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"spin." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "spin." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-spin.html "spin." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-spin.html |
|
spin
spin1 spin doctor a spokesperson employed to give a favourable interpretation of events to the media, especially on behalf of a political party. The term comes from US politics, and originated in a sporting metaphor, with the idea of the spin put on the ball, for example by a pitcher in baseball.
|
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "spin." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "spin." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-spin.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "spin." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-spin.html |
|
spin
spin (symbol s) In quantum mechanics, intrinsic angular momentum possessed by some subatomic particles, atoms, and nuclei. This may be regarded by analogy as the spinning of the particle about an axis within itself. Spin is one of the quantum numbers by which a particle is specified.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"spin." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "spin." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-spin.html "spin." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-spin.html |
|
spin
spin2 spin a yarn tell a long far-fetched story; the expression is a nautical one, and is recorded from the early 19th century.
spin one's wheels in North American usage, waste one's time and efforts. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "spin." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "spin." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-spin1.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "spin." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-spin1.html |
|
spin
spin pt. span, spun, pp. spun draw and form into thread OE.; form (a thread) XIII: shoot, gush XIV; revolve XVII. OE. str. vb. spinnan = (M)Du. spinnen, OHG., Goth. spinnan (G. spinnen), ON. spinna.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "spin." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "spin." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-spin.html T. F. HOAD. "spin." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-spin.html |
|
spin
spin
•agin, akin, begin, Berlin, bin, Boleyn, Bryn, chin, chin-chin, Corinne, din, fin, Finn, Flynn, gaijin, gin, Glyn, grin, Gwyn, herein, Ho Chi Minh, in, inn, Jin, jinn, kin, Kweilin, linn, Lynn, mandolin, mandoline, Min, no-win, pin, Pinyin, quin, shin, sin, skin, spin, therein, thin, Tientsin, tin, Tonkin, Turin, twin, underpin, Vietminh, violin, wherein, whin, whipper-in, win, within, Wynne, yin
•weigh-in • lutein • lie-in • Samhain
•Bowen, Cohen, Owen, throw-in
•heroin, heroine
•benzoin
•bruin, ruin, shoo-in
•Bedouin • Islwyn
•genuine, Menuhin
•cabin, Scriabin
•Portakabin • sin bin • swingbin
•bobbin, dobbin, robin
•haemoglobin (US hemoglobin)
•Reuben • dubbin • dustbin • Jacobin
•kitchen, lichen
•Cochin • urchin
|
|
|
Cite this article
"spin." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "spin." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-spin.html "spin." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-spin.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
