# spinner

/ˈspɪnɝ/ (US) · /spˈɪnɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spinner
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. fishing lure

noun · CEFR B2

a type of fishing hook with a small metal blade that spins in the water to attract fish.

For teachers: a fishing lure equipped with one or more metal blades that rotate around a central wire to create vibration and flash.

- He used a silver spinner to catch trout in the shallow part of the river.
- The angler switched to a heavier spinner, hoping the increased vibration would attract predatory fish in the murky lake water.

### 2. game piece

noun · CEFR A2

a small plastic arrow on a board that you spin to see how many spaces you move in a game.

For teachers: a device used in board games consisting of a rotating pointer on a fixed dial to determine a random outcome.

- It is your turn to flick the spinner and see if you get a six.
- The children argued over the results because the spinner had stopped exactly on the line between two different colors.

### 3. cricket bowler

noun · CEFR B2

a player in cricket who makes the ball spin when they throw it to make it hard to hit.

For teachers: a spin bowler who uses finger or wrist action to impart rotation on the ball, causing it to change direction upon bouncing.

- The captain brought on a spinner to slow down the scoring rate.
- The legendary spinner bamboozled the batsman with a delivery that turned sharply away from the off-stump.

### 4. political expert

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

someone whose job is to make a politician or a story look good to the public.

For teachers: a person, such as a press agent, who provides a favorable interpretation of events to the media; a spin doctor.

- The government's top spinner tried to explain away the bad news.
- Political spinners worked through the night to ensure the candidate's controversial remarks were framed as a misunderstanding by the press.

### 5. computing control

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a small box on a computer screen where you click arrows to change a number up or down.

For teachers: a graphical user interface widget that allows users to adjust a numeric value by clicking up or down arrows.

- Use the spinner to select how many copies of the document you want to print.
- The developer replaced the text input with a spinner to prevent users from entering invalid non-numeric characters into the age field.

### 6. fidget toy

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a small toy that you hold in your hand and spin for fun or to help you focus.

For teachers: a short form of 'fidget spinner'; a handheld toy with a central bearing that allows it to rotate rapidly.

- The teacher asked the student to put his spinner away during the lesson.
- While the craze for spinners has largely faded, many people still find them useful for managing anxiety during long meetings.

### 7. eccentric person

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Dialect

someone who acts in a very strange or crazy way.

For teachers: a person perceived as mentally unstable, eccentric, or highly erratic.

- Don't mind him, he's a bit of a spinner but he's harmless.
- The locals regarded the old hermit as a total spinner, though he was actually quite brilliant in his own way.

Usage: Common in Australian and New Zealand English.

## Examples

- The spinner on his fishing line caught the light.
- The mechanic replaced the broken spinner in the engine to ensure the cooling fan could rotate properly again.
- Anglers often prefer using a silver spinner in murky water because the rapid rotation creates vibrations and flashes of light that attract predatory fish from a distance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.