spin-dry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal to neutral; more common in technical/domestic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “spin-dry” mean?
To remove water from (clothes, laundry, or other wet items) by spinning them rapidly in a machine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To remove water from (clothes, laundry, or other wet items) by spinning them rapidly in a machine.
Figuratively, to process or present information in a way that removes complexity, nuance, or undesirable elements, often to create a more favorable or concise result.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The literal term is common in both. The figurative use may be slightly more prevalent in UK media/political discourse.
Connotations
Literal: neutral, functional. Figurative: often implies a deliberate, sometimes manipulative, simplification.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in literal domestic contexts; low frequency in figurative use.
Grammar
How to Use “spin-dry” in a Sentence
[Subject] spin-dries [Object][Object] is spin-dried (by [Subject])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spin-dry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The machine will spin-dry the load for ten minutes.
- I always spin-dry my jumpers on a low speed.
American English
- Make sure you spin-dry the towels before putting them in the dryer.
- This setting spin-dries delicate fabrics gently.
adjective
British English
- The spin-dry cycle is quite noisy.
- Check the spin-dry speed settings.
American English
- The washer's spin-dry function is very efficient.
- Look for the spin-dry option on the control panel.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; potentially in figurative sense: 'The report was spin-dried for the executive summary.'
Academic
Very rare; limited to technical descriptions of processes.
Everyday
Common in domestic contexts: 'Don't forget to spin-dry the bedding.'
Technical
Used in appliance manuals and descriptions of laundry processes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spin-dry”
- Using 'spin-dry' for drying with heat (that's 'tumble-dry').
- Incorrectly hyphenating as 'spindry' or writing as two words 'spin dry' when used attributively (e.g., spin-dry function).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Spin-dry' uses centrifugal force from spinning to remove water. 'Tumble dry' uses heated air while tumbling clothes in a separate machine (a dryer).
Yes, though it's less common. It means to strip down information or a narrative to a very simplified, often overly neat, version.
The act or process is 'spin-drying'. The machine setting is the 'spin-dry cycle' or 'spin cycle'.
Yes, when used as a compound verb or adjective (e.g., to spin-dry, spin-dry function). The noun 'spin cycle' is often written without a hyphen.
To remove water from (clothes, laundry, or other wet items) by spinning them rapidly in a machine.
Spin-dry is usually informal to neutral; more common in technical/domestic contexts. in register.
Spin-dry: in British English it is pronounced /ˌspɪn ˈdraɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌspɪn ˈdraɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “spin-dry the facts”
- “a spin-dried version of events”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a washing machine SPINning clothes until they are DRY. SPIN + DRY = SPIN-DRY.
Conceptual Metaphor
SIMPLIFICATION IS REMOVAL OF LIQUID (The 'liquid' is unwanted detail or complexity).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of 'spin-drying'?