10 N‑UNCOUNT In a game such as tennis or cricket, if you put spin on a ball, you deliberately make it spin rapidly when you hit it or throw it.
▸ spin off or spin out PHRASAL VERB To spin off or spin off something such as a company means to create a new company that is separate from the original organization. [BUSINESS ] □ [V P n] He rescued the company and later spun off its textile division into a separate company. □ [V P n] Corven plans to help large companies spin out smaller, entrepreneurial firms. [Also V n P ]
▸ spin out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you spin something out , you make it last longer than it normally would. □ [V n P ] My wife's solicitor was anxious to spin things out for as long as possible. □ [V P n] The Government will try to spin out the conference into next autumn.
2 → see also spin off SYNONYMS spin VERB 1
revolve: Overhead, the fan revolved slowly.
turn: As the wheel turned, the potter shaped the clay.
rotate: Take each foot in both hands and rotate it to relax the ankle.
spi|na bi|fi|da /spa I nə b I f I də/ N‑UNCOUNT Spina bifida is a condition of the spine that some people are born with. It often makes them unable to use their legs.
spin|ach /sp I n I dʒ, - I tʃ/ N‑UNCOUNT Spinach is a vegetable with large dark green leaves that you chop up and boil in water before eating.
spi|nal /spa I n ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Spinal means relating to your spine. □ …spinal fluid. □ …spinal injuries.
spi |nal col|umn (spinal columns ) N‑COUNT Your spinal column is your spine.
spi |nal co rd (spinal cords ) N‑COUNT Your spinal cord is a thick cord of nerves inside your spine which connects your brain to nerves in all parts of your body.
spin|dle /sp I nd ə l/ (spindles )
1 N‑COUNT A spindle is a rod in a machine, around which another part of the machine turns.
2 N‑COUNT A spindle is a pointed rod which you use when you are spinning wool by hand. You twist the wool with the spindle to make it into a thread.
spin|dly /sp I ndli/ (spindlier , spindliest ) ADJ Something that is spindly is long and thin and looks very weak. □ I did have rather spindly legs.
spi n doc|tor (spin doctors ) N‑COUNT In politics, a spin doctor is someone who is skilled in public relations and who advises political parties on how to present their policies and actions. [INFORMAL ]
spine /spa I n/ (spines )
1 N‑COUNT Your spine is the row of bones down your back.
2 N‑COUNT The spine of a book is the narrow stiff part which the pages and covers are attached to.
3 N‑COUNT Spines are also long, sharp points on an animal's body or on a plant.
spi ne-chilling ADJ [usu ADJ n] A spine-chilling film or story makes you feel very frightened.
spine|less /spa I nləs/ ADJ If you say that someone is spineless , you mean that they are afraid to take action or oppose people when they should. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …bureaucrats and spineless politicians.
spi ne-tingling ADJ A spine-tingling film or piece of music is enjoyable because it causes you to feel a strong emotion such as excitement or fear. □ It was a spine-tingling and stylish thriller.
spin|na|ker /sp I nəkə r / (spinnakers ) N‑COUNT A spinnaker is a large, light, triangular sail that is attached to the front mast of a boat.
spin|ner /sp I nə r / (spinners )
1 N‑COUNT A spinner is a cricketer who makes the ball spin when he or she bowls it so that it changes direction when it hits the ground or the bat.
2 N‑COUNT A spinner is a person who makes thread by spinning.
spin|ney /sp I ni/ (spinneys ) N‑COUNT A spinney is a small area covered with trees. [BRIT ] in AM, use copse
spi n|ning wheel (spinning wheels ) also spinning-wheel N‑COUNT A spinning wheel is a wooden machine that people used in their homes to make thread from wool, in former times.
spi n-off (spin-offs )
1 N‑COUNT A spin-off is an unexpected but useful or valuable result of an activity that was designed to achieve something else. □ [+ from/of ] The company put out a report on commercial spin-offs from its research.
2 N‑COUNT A spin-off is a book, film, or television series that comes after and is related to a successful book, film, or television series.
spin|ster /sp I nstə r / (spinsters ) N‑COUNT A spinster is a woman who has never been married; used especially when talking about an old or middle-aged woman. [OLD-FASHIONED ] WORD HISTORY spinster
A spinster was originally a spinner , that is, a person – not necessarily a woman – whose occupation was spinning. It is said that a young woman was not considered fit to be a wife until she had spun a certain amount of household linen. Hence, the word came to designate an unmarried woman.
spiny /spa I ni/ ADJ A spiny plant or animal is covered with long sharp points. □ …a spiny lobster. □ …a spiny cactus.
spi|ral /spa I ə rəl/ (spirals , spiralling , spiralled ) in AM, use spiraling , spiraled 1 N‑COUNT A spiral is a shape which winds round and round, with each curve above or outside the previous one. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Spiral is also an adjective. □ …a spiral staircase.
2 VERB If something spirals or is spiralled somewhere, it grows or moves in a spiral curve. □ [V adv/prep] Vines spiraled upward toward the roof. □ [be V -ed] Did you notice whether the roots were spiralled round the pot? [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Spiral is also a noun. □ Larks were rising in spirals from the ridge.