spinner

[ spin-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that spins.
2. Angling. a lure, as a spoon bait, that revolves in the water in trolling and casting.
3. Also called spinner play. Football. a play in which the player carrying the ball twirls about, to deceive the other team as to where the player intends to hit the line.
4. Aeronautics. a streamlined fairing over a propeller hub.
5. British Informal. nightjar.
6. Slang. a disc jockey.

spinner

/ ˈspɪnə /

noun

1. a person or thing that spins
2. informal.
   a spin doctor
3. cricket
   1. a ball that is bowled with a spinning motion
   2. a bowler who specializes in bowling such balls
4. a streamlined fairing that fits over and revolves with the hub of an aircraft propeller
5. a fishing lure with a fin or wing that revolves when drawn through the water
6. an angler's name for the mature adult form (imago) of various flies, especially the mayflies Compare dun 2

Other Words From

• under·spinner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spinner¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, spinner is from the Middle English word spinnere. See spin, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Some sources in government have expressed concerns that the chancellor is creating unnecessary grief over a change that is not, in relative terms, a huge money spinner.

From BBC

His side were chasing a modest target after an inexperienced visiting line-up posted just 209 inside 46 overs, with left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie taking 4-41.

From BBC

That was the first of four successive wickets to fall to the spinner, before seamer Alzarri Joseph returned to wrap up the innings.

From BBC

Indeed spinner Adil Rashid outnumbered the caps of the rest of the line-up put together, with 140 to 127.

From BBC

Pace bowler Gus Atkinson has also extended by a year until 2026, while spinner Jack Leach and white-ball seamer Reece Topley have agreed new one-year deals.

From BBC

Related Words

• gyroscope