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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Spin \Spin\ (sp[i^]n), verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Spun}(Archaic imp. {Span}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Spinning}.] [AS. spinnan; akin to D. & G. spinnen, Icel. & Sw. spinna, Dan. spinde, Goth. spinnan, and probably to E. span. [root]170. Cf. {Span}, v. t., {Spider}.]
1. To draw out, and twist into threads, either by the hand or machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or flax; to spin goat's hair; to produce by drawing out and twisting a fibrous material.
All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. --Shak.
2. To draw out tediously; to form by a slow process, or by degrees; to extend to a great length; -- with out; as, to spin out large volumes on a subject.
Do you mean that story is tediously spun out? --Sheridan.
3. To protract; to spend by delays; as, to spin out the day in idleness.
By one delay after another they spin out their whole lives. --L'Estrange.
4. To cause to turn round rapidly; to whirl; to twirl; as, to spin a top.
5. To form (a web, a cocoon, silk, or the like) from threads produced by the extrusion of a viscid, transparent liquid, which hardens on coming into contact with the air; -- said of the spider, the silkworm, etc.
6. (Mech.) To shape, as malleable sheet metal, into a hollow form, by bending or buckling it by pressing against it with a smooth hand tool or roller while the metal revolves, as in a lathe.
{To spin a yarn} (Naut.), to tell a story, esp. a long or fabulous tale.
{To spin hay} (Mil.), to twist it into ropes for convenient carriage on an expedition.
{To spin street yarn}, to gad about gossiping. [Collog.]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Spun \Spun\ (sp[u^]n), imp. & p. p. of {Spin}.
{Spun hay}, hay twisted into ropes for convenient carriage, as on a military expedition.
{Spun silk}, a cheap article produced from floss, or short-fibered, broken, and waste silk, carded and spun, in distinction from the long filaments wound from the cocoon. It is often mixed with cotton.
{Spun yarn} (Naut.), a line formed of two or more rope-yarns loosely twisted.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
spin
noun
1: a swift whirling motion (usually of a missile)
2: the act of rotating rapidly; "he gave the crank a spin"; "it broke off after much twisting" [syn: {twirl}, {twist}, {twisting}, {whirl}]
3: a short drive in a car; "he took the new car for a spin"
4: rapid descent of an aircraft in a steep spiral [syn: {tailspin}]
5: a distinctive interpretation (especially as used by politicians to sway public opinion); "the campaign put a favorable spin on the story"
verb
1: revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis; "The dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy" [syn: {spin around}, {whirl}, {reel}, {gyrate}]
2: stream in jets, of liquids; "The creek spun its course through the woods"
3: cause to spin; "spin a coin" [syn: {whirl}, {birl}, {twirl}]
4: make up a story; "spin a yarn"
5: form a web by making a thread; "spiders spin a fine web"
6: work natural fibers into a thread; "spin silk"
7: twist and turn so as to give an intended interpretation; "The President's spokesmen had to spin the story to make it less embarrasing"
8: prolong or extend; "spin out a visit" [syn: {spin out}] [also: {spun}, {spinning}]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
spun See {spin}
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |