DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
spinning
紡織,旋轉
Spin v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spun (Archaic imp. Span ); p. pr. & vb. n. Spinning.]
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.
All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses' absence did but fill Ithaca full of moths. --Shak.
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.
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.
4. To cause to turn round rapidly; to whirl; to twirl; as, to spin a top.
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.
6. Mech. 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.
To spin a yarn Naut., to tell a story, esp. a long or fabulous tale.
To spin hay Mil., to twist it into ropes for convenient carriage on an expedition.
To spin street yarn, to gad about gossiping. [Collog.]
Spin·ning a. & n. from Spin.
Spinning gland Zool., one of the glands which form the material for spinning the silk of silkworms and other larvae.
Spinning house, formerly a common name for a house of correction in England, the women confined therein being employed in spinning.
Spinning jenny Mach., an engine or machine for spinning wool or cotton, by means of a large number of spindles revolving simultaneously.
Spinning mite Zool., the red spider.
Spinning wheel, a machine for spinning yarn or thread, in which a wheel drives a single spindle, and is itself driven by the hand, or by the foot acting on a treadle.
◄ ►
spin
n 1: a swift whirling motion (usually of a missile)
2: the act of rotating rapidly; "he gave the crank a spin"; "it
broke off after much twisting" [syn: twirl, twist, twisting,
whirl]
3: a short drive in a car; "he took the new car for a spin"
4: rapid descent of an aircraft in a steep spiral [syn: tailspin]
5: a distinctive interpretation (especially as used by
politicians to sway public opinion); "the campaign put a
favorable spin on the story"
v 1: revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis; "The
dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy"
[syn: spin around, whirl, reel, gyrate]
2: stream in jets, of liquids; "The creek spun its course
through the woods"
3: cause to spin; "spin a coin" [syn: whirl, birl, twirl]
4: make up a story; "spin a yarn"
5: form a web by making a thread; "spiders spin a fine web"
6: work natural fibers into a thread; "spin silk"
7: twist and turn so as to give an intended interpretation;
"The President's spokesmen had to spin the story to make
it less embarrasing"
8: prolong or extend; "spin out a visit" [syn: spin out]
[also: spun, spinning]
spinning
adj : rotating rapidly about an axis; "a spinning top"; "the
whirling dance of the Dervish" [syn: whirling]
n : creating thread