spin

To turn quickly around a central point, or make something turn this way.

• The wheel spins quickly.
• She spun around to face me.
• Can you spin the ball on one finger?

Similar words: rotate, turn, whirl

Common phrases: spin around, spin a wheel, spin the ball

To describe something in a way that makes it seem better and helps your own interests.

• They spun the bad news carefully.
• The minister tried to spin the defeat as progress.
• How will the company spin these disappointing results?

How to use it: spin something as something (The company spun the closure as a fresh start.)

Similar words: slant

Common phrases: spin the news, spin a story, spin something positively

To make thread by twisting short pieces of wool, cotton, or similar material together.

• She spins wool by hand.
• The workers spun cotton into thread.
• This machine can spin several kinds of fiber.

How to use it: spin something into something (They spin the wool into fine yarn.)

Common phrases: spin wool, spin yarn, spin into thread

A quick movement around a central point.

• The dancer ended with a spin.
• The car went into a spin on the ice.
• She put extra spin on the ball.

Similar words: rotation, whirl

Common phrases: a fast spin, into a spin, give something spin

A way of describing something that makes it seem better and influences what people think.

• The report contains too much political spin.
• He put a cheerful spin on the bad news.
• People wanted facts without the usual spin.

How to use it: put a spin on something (She put a positive spin on the disappointing figures.)

Similar words: slant

Common phrases: political spin, positive spin, put spin on

A short trip in a car or on a bike, usually for fun.

• Let's go for a spin.
• She took me for a spin in her new car.
• We enjoyed a quick spin through the countryside.

How to use it: take someone/something for a spin (He took his new bike for a spin.)

Similar words: ride, drive

Common phrases: for a spin, take a spin, a quick spin

A confused or worried state in which you cannot think clearly.

• My head is in a spin.
• The news sent her into a spin.
• With so many decisions to make, his mind was in a spin.

How to use it: send someone into a spin (The sudden change sent us all into a spin.)

Similar words: confusion, fluster

Common phrases: in a spin, into a spin