# spins

/ˈspɪnz/ (US) · /spˈɪnz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spins
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to rotate quickly

verb · CEFR A2

to turn around and around very fast.

For teachers: to rotate or cause to rotate rapidly around an axis.

- The dancer spins across the stage during the final part of the show.
- The turbine spins at thousands of revolutions per minute, generating enough electricity to power the entire coastal district.

### 2. to tell a story

verb · CEFR B2

to tell a long or complicated story, often one that is made up.

For teachers: to draw out or produce a narrative, often involving fabrication or creative embellishment.

- He often spins tall tales about his adventures in the mountains.
- The novelist skillfully spins a complex web of intrigue, keeping the reader guessing until the final chapter.

### 3. fast turns

noun · CEFR B1

more than one act of turning around quickly.

For teachers: plural instances of rapid rotational movements.

- The figure skater performed several perfect spins during her routine.
- The pilot practiced controlled spins to ensure he could recover the aircraft in the event of an emergency stall.

### 4. feeling dizzy

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a dizzy feeling where you think the room is turning around you.

For teachers: a sensation of vertigo or dizziness, typically resulting from overconsumption of alcohol or a physical ailment.

- He lay down on the bed because he had the spins after the party.
- After the carnival ride stopped, she sat on the bench for ten minutes waiting for the spins to subside.

Usage: Usually used with 'the' as in 'the spins'.

## Examples

- I had to keep one foot on the floor to stop the spins.
- After the party, he lay down in bed only to find that the spins made it impossible to sleep.
- The onset of the spins is a common physiological reaction to high blood-alcohol levels, as the ethanol affects the density of the fluid in the inner ear.

---

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.