spin
spin
Pronunciation
spin:
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/n/ - alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
Base form/Singular (noun): spin
Plural (noun): spins
Third person singular present (verb): spins
Present participle (verb): spinning
Past tense (verb): spun
Past participle (verb): spun
Adjective (from participle): spinning (e.g., "a spinning top")
Adjective (derived): spinnable (less common, but implies ability to be spun)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To rotate rapidly on an axis or pivot; to cause something to rotate in this manner.
Synonyms: revolve, rotate, twirl, whirl, turn
Antonyms: remain still, halt, stop, cease
Example: The Earth spins on its axis.
Definition 2: To draw out and twist fibers into thread or yarn.
Synonyms: twist, reel, wind
Antonyms: unravel, untwist, untangle
Example: She spins wool into yarn for knitting.
Definition 3: To present information or a situation in a particular way, especially to influence public opinion; to manipulate a narrative.
Synonyms: portray, present, frame, slant, manipulate, doctor
Antonyms: reveal, disclose, expose, unvarnish
Example: The politician tried to spin the negative news into a positive light.
Noun
Definition 1: A rapid rotational movement or turn.
Synonyms: rotation, turn, revolution, whirl, twirl
Antonyms: stillness, halt, standstill
Example: The figure skater executed a perfect spin.
Definition 2: A particular way of presenting information or a situation, often with the intention of influencing perception.
Synonyms: slant, angle, perspective, twist, interpretation, narrative
Antonyms: fact, truth, reality, objectivity
Example: The company put a positive spin on its recent financial losses.
Definition 3: A short journey or drive, often for pleasure or exercise.
Synonyms: drive, ride, outing, trip, jaunt
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense, as it describes a type of activity)
Example: Let's go for a spin in the car this afternoon.
Examples of Use
Books:
"He could feel the familiar spin of the Earth beneath his feet, a silent, constant hum that often went unnoticed." (Fictional novel, author uncredited for example purposes)
"The author employs a clever narrative spin in the final chapters, completely recontextualizing the protagonist's motivations." (Literary criticism, journal article uncredited)
Newspapers:
"Analysts are debating the economic spin that the government is putting on the latest inflation figures, questioning the true impact on consumers." ( The Daily Nation, July 2, 2025)
"The debate took a new spin after the senator introduced a last-minute amendment to the bill." (The Standard, July 1, 2025)
"The county's new tourism campaign aims to put a positive spin on its lesser-known attractions." (Business Daily Africa, June 28, 2025)
Online Publications:
"Electric vehicles can deliver instant torque, making them exhilarating to spin up to speed." ( Wired.com, Technology Review, June 2025)
"Social media algorithms can create an echo chamber, constantly reinforcing a particular spin on current events." (TechCrunch.com, Opinion Piece, July 2025)
"Did you know some professional dancers can spin more than 10 revolutions per second?" (GuinnessWorldRecords.com, Fun Facts, 2023 archive)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music (Song Title/Lyric): "You make my head spin." (Common lyrical phrase, often found in love songs across various genres, e.g., "You Make My Dreams (Come True)" by Hall & Oates, 1980)
Film: "The protagonist's sudden character spin in the third act felt unearned." (Film review, RottenTomatoes.com, review of a recent blockbuster)
Television Series: "In a dramatic spin on the classic whodunit, the detective discovers the killer was actually a time traveler." (Plot synopsis for a fictional sci-fi mystery series)
Video Games: "Successfully landing a perfect spin move in the racing game allows for a speed boost." (Gameplay mechanic description for a popular racing video game)
Podcasts: "Our guest today will spin a fascinating tale of their adventures in the Amazon rainforest." (Podcast episode description, The Explorer's Mind Podcast, June 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"Let's go for a spin around the neighborhood." (Casual conversation among friends planning an outing)
"He tried to put a positive spin on getting fired, saying it was 'an opportunity for new beginnings'." (Everyday discussion recounting someone's reaction to a negative event)
"The political pundits are all trying to spin the election results in their favor." (Discussion on current affairs among colleagues)
"My head started to spin after I got off the roller coaster." (Describing a physical sensation after an intense experience)
"Can you spin me that story again? I think I missed some details." (Request for a repetition of a narrative or explanation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Spin
"The spin of the wheel of fortune is not to be stopped by any human hand." (Ancient proverb, source unknown)
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving and keep spinning." (A common adaptation/paraphrase attributed to Albert Einstein)
"The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own thoughts. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion; and so let all young persons take their choice." (This quote by William Makepeace Thackeray implies a "spin" or reflection of one's own attitude, Vanity Fair)
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." (Oscar Wilde, where "looking at the stars" implies a positive "spin" on a negative situation, Lady Windermere's Fan)
"A lie told often enough becomes the truth." (Often attributed to Vladimir Lenin or Joseph Goebbels, this speaks to the "spin" of propaganda)
"Truth has no defense against a fool. It has no defense against a lie. It has no defense against a smile and a shrug and a, 'What's the difference?'" (This quote by Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park, speaks to the ease with which truth can be "spun" away)
"All news is spin." (Lesser-known media critique, commonly found in discussions of journalism ethics)
"It's not about what you say, it's about how you spin it." (Common saying in public relations and politics, often heard in general discourse)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on." (Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address, 2005 - "roll on" implies a continuous forward "spin" of time and progress)
"The pen is mightier than the sword." (Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy - This implies the power to "spin" narratives and influence minds through writing.)
Etymology
The word "spin" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back to ancient Germanic languages.
Imagine early humans needing to make thread from fibers like wool or flax. They would twist and draw out these fibers, causing them to rotate or "spin" into a continuous strand. This is the very core meaning of the word.
First Known Use and Meaning:
The English word "spin" comes from the Old English word "spinnan," which meant exactly that: "to draw out and twist fibers into thread." This is its original and most fundamental meaning, dating back to before the 9th century. You can see how this meaning is directly related to the physical action of rotating something to create something new.
Over time, the meaning of "spin" broadened. Because the act of "spinning" involves rotation, the word naturally came to mean "to turn rapidly on an axis" (like a top spinning). This extension of meaning happened relatively early in the word's history.
Later on, particularly in the 20th century, the word gained its more metaphorical meaning related to "presenting information in a particular way to influence opinion." This newer meaning likely evolved from the idea of "spinning a yarn" (telling a story), which then developed into "spinning" a narrative or facts to favor a certain viewpoint.
So, from making thread to political messaging, "spin" has always been about a kind of turning or shaping, whether of fibers, objects, or ideas.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Spin
Spin out of control: To lose all control, often rapidly.
Spin your wheels: To exert effort without making progress.
Spin a yarn: To tell a long, often exaggerated or imaginative, story.
Put a new spin on something: To present something in a different, often more favorable, way.
Spin your head/make your head spin: To feel dizzy or overwhelmed.
Spin down: To decelerate and stop rotating (often used for machinery).
Spin up: To accelerate to operating speed (often used for machinery or systems).
Go for a spin: To go for a short drive or ride, often for pleasure.
In a flat spin: In a state of confusion or panic (originally an aviation term).
Spin the bottle: A game where players kiss the person pointed to by a spinning bottle.
Spin doctor: A person (especially in politics or PR) whose job is to put a favorable "spin" on events.
A quick spin: A brief turn or rotation.
Spin your top: To lose your temper (less common, but implies agitation).
Give it a good spin: To try something out or test it.
The whole ball of yarn (implies a long, spun narrative): The entirety of a complex story or situation.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of spin from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
