verb

spin

spihn

verb

To turn around quickly on an axis.

"The dancer spun gracefully across the stage."

"The wheel spun freely once the brake was released."

To present information in a biased way to make it look more favorable.

"The press office tried to spin the layoffs as a "restructuring.""

noun

A biased or favorable slant put on a piece of news or information.

"Voters are used to hearing political spin during election season."

A short trip taken in a vehicle for pleasure.

"He took the new car for a spin around the block."

How to Use Spin

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo rotate quickly, or, in media/politics, to present facts in a way that favors one side.

Common mistake

Don't confuse the neutral "rotate" meaning with the more cynical "spin doctor" meaning — context usually makes it clear which is meant.

Common pairings

put a spin on it go for a spin political spin

Word Forms

spun past tense, span past tense, spinned past tense, spins plural, spins plural, spins singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The press office tried to _____ the layoffs as a "restructuring."

Etymology

From Old English spinnan, "to spin thread" — the sense of twisting fibers into yarn came first, with "rotate" and "present with bias" developing later.

Rhymes for spin

pin lupin Chopin pippin turpin Chapin Crispin hairpin kingpin Flippin linchpin tailspin

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