# spin

> English word · Verb · IPA /spɪn/ · frequency rank #3,786

## Definitions
1. To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction.
2. To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction.
3. To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction.
4. To make yarn by twisting and winding fibers together.
5. To present, describe, or interpret, or to introduce a bias or slant, so as to give something a favorable or advantageous appearance.
6. To make the ball move sideways when it bounces on the pitch.
7. To move sideways when bouncing.
8. To form into thin strips or ribbons, as with sugar
9. To form (a web, a cocoon, silk, etc.) 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.
10. 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.
11. To move swiftly.
12. To stream or issue in a thread or a small current or jet.
13. To wait in a loop until some condition becomes true.
14. To rotate into the gravel or managing to remain on the straight as a result of bad weather.
15. To play (vinyl records, etc.) as a disc jockey.
16. To use an exercise bicycle, especially as part of a gym class.
17. To ride a bicycle at a fast cadence.
18. To search rapidly.
19. To draw out tediously; prolong.
20. To fish with a swivel or spoonbait.
21. To reject at an examination; to fail (a student).

## Etymology
From Middle English spinnen, from Old English spinnan, from Proto-Germanic *spinnaną, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)penh₁-.
Cognates
Cognate with Dutch, German spinnen (“to spin”), Luxembourgish spannen (“to spin”), Yiddish שפּינען (shpinen, “spin”), Danish spinde (“to spin”), Faroese, Icelandic and Swedish spinna (“to spin”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk spinne (“to spin”), Gothic 𐍃𐍀𐌹𐌽𐌽𐌰𐌽 (spinnan, “to spin”).

## Easily confused with
- **sun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-sun)
- **spy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-spy)
- **STI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-sti)
- **Sui** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-sui)
- **syn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-syn)
- **SSI** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-ssi)
- **SPS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-sps)
- **SPL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-spl)
- **SSN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-ssn)
- **SPR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-spr)
- **spot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-spot)
- **suit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-suit)
- **swim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-swim)
- **stan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-stan)
- **stir** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-stir)
- **spit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-spit)
- **swan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-swan)
- **spun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-spun)
- **spur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-spur)
- **stun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spin-vs-stun)

## Common misspellings (6)
`psin`, `sipn`, `spinn`, `spni`, `sppin`, `sspin`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/spin