01 v. t. To draw out, and twist into threads, either by the hand or machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or flax; to spin goat's hair; to produce by…
imp. & p. p.
Spun; imp.
Span; p. pr. & vb. n.
Spinning
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1.
To draw out, and twist into threads, either by the hand or machinery; as, to spin wool, cotton, or flax; to spin goat's hair; to produce by drawing out and twisting a fibrous material.Archaic“All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths.” — Shak.
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2.
To draw out tediously; to form by a slow process, or by degrees; to extend to a great length; -- with out; as, to spin out large volumes on a subject.“Do you mean that story is tediously spun out?” — Sheridan.
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3.
To protract; to spend by delays; as, to spin out the day in idleness.“By one delay after another they spin out their whole lives.” — L'Estrange.
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4.
To cause to turn round rapidly; to whirl; to twirl; as, to spin a top.
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5.
To form (a web, a cocoon, silk, or the like) from threads produced by the extrusion of a viscid, transparent liquid, which hardens on coming into contact with the air; -- said of the spider, the silkworm, etc.
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6.
To shape, as malleable sheet metal, into a hollow form, by bending or buckling it by pressing against it with a smooth hand tool or roller while the metal revolves, as in a lathe.(Mech.)
Phrases & compounds
To spin a yarn —
to tell a story, esp. a long or fabulous tale.
To spin hay —
to twist it into ropes for convenient carriage on an expedition.
To spin street yarn —
to gad about gossiping.