bobbin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1‑C2technical, craft, industrial
Quick answer
What does “bobbin” mean?
A small cylinder or spindle on which thread, yarn, or wire is wound, especially for use in sewing machines, weaving, or lace‑making.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small cylinder or spindle on which thread, yarn, or wire is wound, especially for use in sewing machines, weaving, or lace‑making.
In electronics, a cylindrical coil‑former for winding wire; in fishing, a small spool for holding line; informally, a term for a child's spinning top.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling and pronunciation are identical.
Connotations
Both varieties share strong associations with sewing, textile crafts, and light industry.
Frequency
Equally low‑frequency in general discourse but common in specific technical or craft contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “bobbin” in a Sentence
[verb] + bobbin: wind/load/insert/change a bobbin[adjective] + bobbin: empty/full/metal/plastic bobbinbobbin + [of + noun]: a bobbin of threadbobbin + [for + noun]: a bobbin for lace‑makingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bobbin” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She had to bobbin the thread carefully onto the shuttle.
- The machine bobbins the yarn automatically.
American English
- You need to bobbin the wire before soldering.
- The device bobbins the fishing line evenly.
adjective
British English
- The bobbin mechanism was jammed.
- Bobbin lace is a traditional craft.
American English
- Check the bobbin case for lint.
- Bobbin thread tension needs adjusting.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in textile manufacturing, haberdashery retail, and supply‑chain contexts for sewing‑machine parts.
Academic
Appears in historical texts on the Industrial Revolution (e.g., bobbin‑lace industry) and in engineering papers on coil winding.
Everyday
Mainly in domestic sewing, craft hobbies, and minor repairs involving thread.
Technical
Precise term in sewing‑machine manuals, textile engineering, electronics (inductor bobbins), and fishing‑tackle specifications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bobbin”
- Confusing 'bobbin' (holds lower thread) with 'spool' (holds upper thread) on sewing machines. Misspelling as 'bobbing' (verb form). Using uncountably ('a bobbin' is always countable).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common in sewing, it also refers to spools in lace‑making, coil‑formers in electronics, and small reels in fishing.
In sewing, a bobbin is the smaller, lower spool that fits inside the machine, while a spool is the larger, upper thread source. In general use, they can be synonyms.
Rarely and technically, meaning 'to wind onto a bobbin.' It is not standard in everyday language.
Yes, the first vowel differs: British /ɒ/ as in 'lot,' American /ɑː/ as in 'father.'
A small cylinder or spindle on which thread, yarn, or wire is wound, especially for use in sewing machines, weaving, or lace‑making.
Bobbin is usually technical, craft, industrial in register.
Bobbin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒb.ɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑː.bɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Bob' winding a 'bin' of thread — 'Bob‑bin' holds thread like a bin holds items.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER FOR LINEAR MATERIAL (thread, wire, line) / A CORE AROUND WHICH SOMETHING IS BUILT.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bobbin' least likely to be used?