spindle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Technical, Semi-formal, Sometimes Archaic
Quick answer
What does “spindle” mean?
A slender, rounded rod, often tapered at the ends, used for twisting and winding thread in hand-spinning.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A slender, rounded rod, often tapered at the ends, used for twisting and winding thread in hand-spinning.
Any rod or pin that serves as an axis, shaft, or support for rotation or winding. This includes machine parts (drive spindle), furniture legs (spindle back chair), and biological structures (spindle fibres in cell division).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal difference in core meaning. The phrase 'spindle back' or 'spindle chair' might be more common in UK antique/furniture descriptions. The verb is rare in both.
Connotations
In both, it can have a somewhat old-fashioned, artisanal, or technical feel. In modern business contexts, the verb 'to spindle' (to impale on a spindle) is mostly known from the office phrase 'fold, spindle, or mutilate'.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK/EU technical documents due to the prominence of certain machine-tool manufacturing sectors. In everyday language, equally low frequency in both.
Grammar
How to Use “spindle” in a Sentence
[Verb + spindle]: to mount/place/fit on a spindle[Adjective + spindle]: a rotating/broken/driving spindle[spindle + of + noun]: a spindle of threadVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spindle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- In the old mill, they would spindle the wool by hand.
- Please do not spindle these important documents.
American English
- He spindled the receipt and threw it away.
- The office policy warned against folding, spindling, or mutilating forms.
adverb
British English
- (Extremely rare; no standard usage found.)
American English
- (Extremely rare; no standard usage found.)
adjective
British English
- The chair had elegant, spindle-shaped legs.
- He was a tall, spindle-legged fellow.
American English
- She admired the spindle-back rocking chair on the porch.
- The old table had a spindle design on its apron.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Found in manufacturing, textiles, and machining industries (e.g., 'The CNC machine's spindle speed is critical.').
Academic
Common in biology (mitotic spindle), engineering (machine design), and history (technological history of textiles).
Everyday
Most likely encountered in furniture descriptions (spindle-back chair) or in historical/craft contexts (spinning wheel).
Technical
A precise term in mechanical engineering, machining, cell biology, and textile arts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spindle”
- Confusing 'spindle' with 'spinnaker' (a type of sail).
- Using 'spindle' as a common verb (it is very rare).
- Misspelling as 'spindel'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the verb form is very rare and mostly survives in the fixed bureaucratic phrase 'fold, spindle, or mutilate.' In everyday language, it is almost exclusively a noun.
Both are rods, but an axle is specifically designed to support rotating wheels or gears and transmit torque. A spindle is often a driven component that itself rotates (like on a lathe or in spinning) or a stationary rod on which something else rotates. The terms can overlap in engineering.
The mitotic spindle is a crucial structure made of microtubules that separates chromosomes into two daughter cells during cell division. Errors in spindle function can lead to serious genetic disorders.
The most recognisable idiom is the humorous or bureaucratic threat 'fold, spindle, or mutilate,' originating from instructions on old punch cards. The archaic adjective 'spindle-shanked' (thin-legged) is also occasionally seen in literature.
A slender, rounded rod, often tapered at the ends, used for twisting and winding thread in hand-spinning.
Spindle is usually technical, semi-formal, sometimes archaic in register.
Spindle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspɪnd(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspɪnd(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"Fold, spindle, or mutilate" (a phrase from old computer instructions, now meaning to treat something badly or with excessive bureaucracy).”
- “"Spindle-shanked" (archaic, meaning having very thin legs).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a thin SPIN DLE (a 'dle' that SPINs). It's the rod that spins to make thread.
Conceptual Metaphor
CENTER AS AXIS / SUPPORT AS SPINDLE (e.g., 'He was the spindle around which the entire project revolved.').
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'spindle' LEAST likely to be used?