Forms
Infinitive
spin
Past
spun
Past participle
spun
Definitions
01to rotate
A2 · Elementary
v. to turn around and around very quickly.
v. to rotate or cause to rotate rapidly around an axis.
日本語:回る※
“The ice skater started to spin faster and faster until she was just a blur.”
“The turbine began to spin at several thousand revolutions per minute, generating enough power for the entire facility.”
Antonyms
02to make yarn
B1 · Intermediate
v. to twist fibers like wool or cotton together to make thread.
v. to draw out and twist fibers into yarn or thread.
日本語:紡ぐ※
“In the old days, people used a wooden wheel to spin wool into yarn.”
“The artisan demonstrated how to spin raw silk into delicate threads using traditional methods passed down through generations.”
03to bias information
C1 · Advanced Informal
v. to describe a situation in a way that makes it sound better than it really is.
v. to present or interpret information with a particular bias to influence public opinion.
“The company tried to spin the bad news as a chance for a fresh start.”
“Political consultants worked through the night to spin the candidate's controversial remarks before the morning papers were printed.”
Teaching tip
Often used in the context of 'spin doctors' in politics or public relations.
04turning motion
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. a fast, circular movement.
n. a rapid revolving or rotating motion.
“The dancer finished her performance with a graceful spin.”
“The physicist measured the electron's spin to determine its magnetic properties within the experimental field.”
05a short trip
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a short, quick journey in a car or on a bike for fun.
n. a brief excursion in a vehicle, typically for pleasure rather than utility.
“It is a beautiful day, so let's go for a spin in your new car.”
“After restoring the vintage motorcycle, he took it for a quick spin around the countryside to test the engine.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'go for a spin'.
06biased interpretation
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal
n. a way of telling a story that influences what people think.
n. a particular bias or slant placed on information to manipulate its perception.
“The reporter put a positive spin on the team's loss by focusing on their hard work.”
“The government's spin on the economic data failed to convince the public that prices were actually falling.”
07a new version
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a new or different way of doing something that already exists.
n. a novel or creative variation of an existing concept or item.
“The chef created a modern spin on the traditional apple pie.”
“The director's latest film offers a dark, psychological spin on the classic fairy tale.”
08aircraft stall
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. a dangerous situation where a plane falls while turning in circles.
n. a flight condition involving a stall resulting in a simultaneous roll, pitch, and yaw.
“The pilot managed to recover the plane from a dangerous spin just in time.”
“During the aerobatic display, the pilot intentionally entered a flat spin to demonstrate the aircraft's recovery capabilities.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “spin” in context.
Verb
01. spin a web of lies
“The fraudster managed to spin a web of lies that deceived investors for years.”
verb + noun + of + noun
02. spin a yarn
“The old sailor would often spin a yarn about his adventures in the South Pacific.”
verb + noun
03. spin out of control
“The aircraft began to spin out of control after the engine failure.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
04. dizzying spin
“The figure skater ended her routine with a dizzying spin that left the audience breathless.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. brief spin in the car
“We took a brief spin in the car to test the new suspension.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
06. positive spin on the news
“The press secretary tried to put a positive spin on the news regarding the economic downturn.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“As of Friday, the spacecraft had cut its spin rate in half, from about 9 degrees per second to approximately 4 degrees per second.” “In some cases, the rising air becomes so strong that it begins to spin, forming a fire whirl , also known as a fire tornado.” “We took a spin around Lahore, Pakistan, on a small-but-mighty one.” “This will have been an enticing selling point for a team that spin so much gold from set plays.” Etymology
From Middle English spinnen, from Old English spinnan, from Proto-Germanic spinnaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)penh₁-. Cognates Cognate with Dutch, German spinnen (“to spin”), Luxembourgish spannen (“to spin”), Yiddish שפּינען (shpinen, “spin”), Danish spinde (“to spin”), Faroese, Icelandic and Swedish spinna (“to spin”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk spinne (“to spin”), Gothic 𐍃𐍀𐌹𐌽𐌽𐌰𐌽 (spinnan, “to spin”).
Clipping of special interest.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
PHRASAL VERB
Related words
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/spin
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR