spin
B1General (both formal and informal)
Definition
Meaning
To turn rapidly around a central point or axis.
To create a narrative or interpretation of events, often in a biased or deceptive way; to draw out a process or activity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has both literal (physical rotation) and figurative (narrative manipulation) meanings. The noun can refer to a rapid rotation or a brief, fast ride.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use 'spin' similarly. The phrasal verb 'spin out' can more commonly mean 'to prolong' in UK English (e.g., 'spin out a meeting'), while in US English it strongly connotes 'to lose control and rotate' (e.g., 'the car spun out on the ice').
Connotations
In political/media contexts ('spin doctor', 'to put a spin on'), connotation is equally negative (biased manipulation) in both varieties.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties. The noun 'spin' for 'a rapid ride' (e.g., 'go for a spin in the car') is slightly more common in British English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
spin [sth] (e.g., She spun the globe.)spin + adverb/preposition (e.g., The wheels spun wildly.)spin [sb] a story (ditransitive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “spin your wheels (US: waste effort)”
- “spin a yarn (tell a long, involved story)”
- “in a flat spin (BrE: in a state of panic)”
- “make someone's head spin”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A 'spin-off' is a company created from a division of a larger parent company. 'Spin' refers to public relations narrative management.
Academic
Used in physics (angular momentum, electron spin), political science/media studies (media spin).
Everyday
Spinning in circles, spin cycle on a washing machine, spinning a basketball on a finger.
Technical
In aviation: a stalled, autorotational descent. In computing: a 'spinlock'. In textiles: spinning fibres into thread.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The washing machine is on its final spin.
- He gave the coin a quick spin on the table.
American English
- The skater added one more spin to her routine.
- The reporter accused the campaign of using too much spin.
verb
British English
- The politician tried to spin the negative poll results as a 'wake-up call'.
- Shall we spin by the pub for a quick pint?
American English
- The tires spun on the icy pavement.
- Let's spin the pizza dough high in the air.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The child loves to spin around until she feels dizzy.
- My washing machine has a fifteen-minute spin.
- The cyclist lost control and went into a spin.
- Can you spin a basketball on your fingertip?
- The company's spin-off became more successful than the original business.
- He managed to put an optimistic spin on the project's delays.
- The aircraft entered an unrecoverable spin after the engine failure.
- The media advisor was hired solely to provide favourable spin during the crisis.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SPINner in a board game – it spins around to point to a result.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS HOLDING; DECEPTION IS SPINNING (e.g., 'He tried to put a positive spin on the failure.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'спин' (back) – they are false friends.
- The verb 'крутить' covers many meanings of 'spin', but 'spin a story' requires a different verb (e.g., 'сочинять').
- The noun 'spin' (rotation) is closer to 'вращение' than 'спин'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect past tense: 'spinned' (correct: 'spun').
- Confusing 'spin' (intentional rotation) with 'drift' (uncontrolled movement).
Practice
Quiz
What does it mean if a car 'spins out' on a US highway?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The correct past tense is 'spun'. 'Spinned' is a common error.
A spin doctor is a political or public relations advisor who tries to influence how the media presents information to the public, often putting a favourable interpretation on events.
'Spin' often implies faster, more continuous, or more forceful rotation, sometimes around a central axis. 'Rotate' is more general and can be slower or more deliberate (e.g., 'rotate a statue to see all sides').
Yes, in its literal sense ('spin a top'), it is neutral. Figuratively, while 'spin' often has a negative connotation (deception), phrases like 'positive spin' or 'optimistic spin' are common and accepted.