资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Spin \Spin\, 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.

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

   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.

            Do you mean that story is tediously spun out?
                                                  --Sheridan.

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

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

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

   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.

   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.

   {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.]