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to spin

to spin

6 5.5
To make something last longer than needed
  • verb
  • /spɪn/
translation icon : alargar
  • Thus, my rereading of the story will resurrect that question and others that spin off it.

Examples

  • Why don't they spin off more instead of layoffs?

    Blog text (8)
  • To keep the meeting going, we decided to spin it out for as long as possible.

  • So, this is all going to spin along from here.

  • If we make him spin out we can lose him.

  • We gotta make it spin out.

  • The main thing was that there was a sense that American foreign policy was going to spin out of control.

    Blog text (13)
  • And we're just going to spin this for another minute or two to get it all softened up.

  • American leadership is necessary to ensure that events in the region don't spin out of control.

    Blog text (33)
  • Impressive as all this may seem, I've got to spin out an alternative scenario.

    Blog text (14)
  • Consumers often establish friendships with other group members that last beyond the duration of the program and sometimes spin off into community support groups.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

to spin out
vsto spin
  • Informal
1 5.6

To make something last longer than needed

has the same meaning but is a single-word form without the particle

Antonyms

147 4.6

To make something stop or finish

45 2.3

Make something shorter, for example an article, skirt, or route

Idioms

4 7.0

To leave someone feeling overwhelmed or confused by too much information

3 7.4

To cause someone to feel confused or overwhelmed by too much information

in a spin
  • Informal
2 7.9

Feeling confused and unable to think clearly after something unexpected

to spin a yarn
  • Informal
1 6.8

To tell a long made-up or exaggerated story

Phrasal Verbs

To turn your body quickly in a circle many times

23 4.2

To test a car or gadget by using it for a short time

11 4.3

To create a new company or product from part of a larger business

to spin up
  • Specialized
3 5.2

Start a computer system or service so it is ready to use

2 7.9

To waste time and effort without making progress

1 6.1

To lose control of a vehicle so it spins around

Make up and tell a tale, often to entertain or avoid trouble

to spin out
  • Informal
1 5.6

To make something last longer than needed

to spin down
  • Informal
6.7

To relax and become less active after a busy time

to spin down
  • Specialized
6.6

To make a hard drive or fan slow down to save power

To quickly set up a meeting when a new problem needs attention

Remove water from clothes by spinning them fast in a machine

to spin-out
  • Specialized
6.7

To create a new business from part of a larger company

to spin-out
  • Informal
6.7

To make something last longer by making it finish later

Compounds

12 3.7

A new company, product, or show created from an existing one

spin doctor
  • Literature
7 7.1

A person who makes news or events look better to influence people's opinions

spin the bottle
  • Informal
7 5.0

A party game where people sit in a circle and spin a bottle to kiss the person it points to

1 3.2

A machine that dries clothes by spinning them to remove water

7.3

A technique using microwaves to study magnetic behavior of electrons in certain materials

A funny, light way of talking about something

2.1

An electric machine that removes water from clothes by turning them quickly

spin the plate
  • Baby Talk
9.3

A children's game where a plate is spun and the named player must catch it or do a silly task

spin the platter
  • Baby Talk
9.7

A children's game in which players turn a plate on its edge and try to catch it before it falls

spin-off
  • Specialized
4.8

A useful item made while making another product

5.0

An accident when a car or other vehicle loses control and spins

5.0

A new business created from part of a larger company

How Long

to protract
4 7.8
to prolong
96 3.9
to spin
6 5.5
to delay
562 1.4
to stall
166 4.3

Surface Forms

spin infinitive
spinning present participle
spins third person singular
spun past
spun past participle

Etymology

Spin meaning to make something last longer comes from the idea of drawing out thread when you spin—you pull the yarn to make more—so by extension you can 'spin out' time or a story to stretch it. So, to spin something here is to stretch it out or delay it.