spinning

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   A form of exercise in which people ride stationary bicycles together, often in a class.

   Grammar: No plural; used like 'I do spinning' or 'a spinning class'.

   Patterns

   • do spinning
   • a spinning class
   • go spinning

   She goes spinning at the gym every Tuesday evening.

   The spinning class was full, so we booked for next week.

   After an hour of spinning, my legs were shaking.

2. 2noununcountabletechnical

   The process of making thread or yarn by twisting fibers together.

   Grammar: No plural; often used before another noun, as in 'spinning wheel'.

   Patterns

   • the spinning of wool
   • spinning wheel
   • spinning mill

   The museum shows the traditional spinning of wool into yarn.

   In the past, spinning was done by hand at home.

   She demonstrated spinning on an old wooden wheel.

3. 3adjectivebefore a noun

   Turning around quickly and repeatedly.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun: 'a spinning top'. For the action, use the verb: 'The top is spinning.'

   Patterns

   • a spinning top
   • a spinning wheel
   • spinning around

   The child watched the spinning top until it fell over.

   I felt dizzy, as if the room were spinning.

   The spinning blades of the fan kept us cool.

4. 4noununcountablesport

   In cricket, a way of bowling the ball slowly so that it turns when it bounces.

   Grammar: No plural; often used in phrases like 'spin bowling' or 'the art of spinning'.

   Patterns

   • the art of spinning
   • spin bowling
   • good at spinning

   His spinning confused the batsmen on the dry pitch.

   She is known for her skill in spinning.

   The team relies on spinning rather than fast bowling.

Word forms

Common combinations

spinning class

I signed up for a spinning class at the local gym.

spinning wheel

The old woman sat by the spinning wheel, making yarn.

spinning top

He bought a colorful spinning top for his nephew.

spinning around

The dancers were spinning around the room.

do spinning

Do you do spinning regularly?

Synonyms and how they differ

cycling

General word for riding a bicycle, usually outdoors; 'spinning' specifically means indoor stationary bikes.

rotating

Describes something turning around a center; it is more technical and not used for the exercise class.

whirling

Suggests fast, often chaotic turning; 'spinning' can be fast but is also used for steady turning.

Word family

spin verb

To turn around quickly, or to make thread.

spinner noun

A person or thing that spins, especially a device for spinning thread.

spun adjective

Made by spinning, as in 'spun silk'.

Commonly confused: spinning or spinning?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “spinning”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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