Spinning

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
spinning
    n 1: creating thread
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Spin \Spin\ (sp[i^]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spun}(Archaic imp.
   {Span}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Spinning}.] [AS. spinnan; akin to
   D. & G. spinnen, Icel. & Sw. spinna, Dan. spinde, Goth.
   spinnan, and probably to E. span. [root]170. Cf. {Span}, v.
   t., {Spider}.]
   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            All the yarn she [Penelope] spun in Ulysses' absence
            did but fill Ithaca full of moths.    --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Do you mean that story is tediously spun out?
                                                  --Sheridan.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To protract; to spend by delays; as, to spin out the day
      in idleness.
      [1913 Webster]

            By one delay after another they spin out their whole
            lives.                                --L'Estrange.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. To cause to turn round rapidly; to whirl; to twirl; as, to
      spin a top.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   {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.]
      [1913 Webster]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Spinning \Spin"ning\,
   a. & n. from {Spin}.
   [1913 Webster]

   {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.
      [1913 Webster]
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
35 Moby Thesaurus words for "spinning":
      angular momentum, angular motion, angular velocity, axial motion,
      bowling, centrifugation, circulation, circumgyration,
      circumrotation, full circle, gyrating, gyration, pivoting, reeling,
      revolution, revolving, roll, rolling, rotating, rotation,
      rotational motion, spin, swinging, swirling, swiveling, trolling,
      trundling, turbination, turning, twirling, volutation, volution,
      wheeling, whir, whirling

    

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