Adjacent Words

Spindle definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SPIN'DLE, a. [See Spin.]
1. The pin used in spinning wheels for twisting the thread, and on which the thread when twisted, is wound.
2. A slender pointed rod or pin on which any thing turn; as the spindle of a vane.
3. The fusee of a watch.
4. A long slender stalk.
5. The lower end of a capstan, shod with iron; the pivot.
SPIN'DLE, v.i. To shoot or grow in a long slender stalk or body.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in the middle; "chromosomes are distributed by spindles in mitosis and meiosis"
2: a piece of wood that has been turned on a lathe; used as a baluster, chair leg, etc.
3: any of various rotating shafts that serve as axes for larger rotating parts [syn: spindle, mandrel, mandril, arbor]
4: a stick or pin used to twist the yarn in spinning
5: any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed object; "the spike pierced the receipts and held them in order" [syn: spike, spindle]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English spindel, from Old English spinel; akin to Old English spinnan to spin Date: 12th century 1. a. a round stick with tapered ends used to form and twist the yarn in hand spinning b. the long slender pin by which the thread is twisted in a spinning wheel c. any of various rods or pins holding a bobbin in a textile machine (as a spinning frame) d. the pin in a loom shuttle e. a device usually consisting of a long upright pin in a base on which papers can be stuck for filing — called also spindle file 2. something shaped like a spindle: as a. a spindle-shaped network of chiefly microtubular fibers along which the chromosomes are distributed during mitosis and meiosis b. muscle spindle 3. a. the bar or shaft usually of square section that carries the knobs and actuates the latch or bolt of a lock b. (1) a turned often decorative piece (as in a baluster) (2) newel c. (1) a revolving piece especially when thinner than a shaft (2) a horizontal or vertical axle revolving on pin or pivot ends d. the part of an axle on which a vehicle wheel turns II. verb (spindled; spindling) Date: 1577 intransitive verb 1. to shoot or grow into a long slender stalk 2. to grow to stalk or stem rather than to flower or fruit transitive verb 1. to impale, thrust, or perforate on the spike of a spindle file 2. to make or equip (as a piece of furniture) with spindles • spindler noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a a pin in a spinning-wheel used for twisting and winding the thread. b a small bar with tapered ends used for the same purpose in hand-spinning. c a pin bearing the bobbin of a spinning-machine. 2 a pin or axis that revolves or on which something revolves. 3 a turned piece of wood used as a banister, chair leg, etc. 4 Biol. a spindle-shaped mass of microtubules formed when a cell divides. 5 a varying measure of length for yarn. 6 a slender person or thing. --v.intr. have, or grow into, a long slender form. Phrases and idioms: spindle berry the fruit of the spindle tree. spindle-shanked having long thin legs. spindle-shanks a person with such legs. spindle-shaped having a circular cross-section and tapering towards each end. spindle side = distaff side. spindle tree any shrub or small tree of the genus Euonymus, esp. E. europaeus with greenish-white flowers, pink or red berries, and hard wood used for spindles. Etymology: OE spinel (as SPIN)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spindle Spin"dle, n. [AS. spinal, fr. spinnan to spin; akin to D. spil, G. spille, spindel, OHG. spinnala. [root]170. See Spin.] 1. The long, round, slender rod or pin in spinning wheels by which the thread is twisted, and on which, when twisted, it is wound; also, the pin on which the bobbin is held in a spinning machine, or in the shuttle of a loom. 2. A slender rod or pin on which anything turns; an axis; as, the spindle of a vane. Specifically: (a) (Mach.) The shaft, mandrel, or arbor, in a machine tool, as a lathe or drilling machine, etc., which causes the work to revolve, or carries a tool or center, etc. (b) (Mach.) The vertical rod on which the runner of a grinding mill turns. (c) (Founding) A shaft or pipe on which a core of sand is formed. 3. The fusee of a watch. 4. A long and slender stalk resembling a spindle. 5. A yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards; in linen yarn, 14,400 yards. 6. (Geom.) A solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about its base or double ordinate or chord. 7. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any marine univalve shell of the genus Rostellaria; -- called also spindle stromb. (b) Any marine gastropod of the genus Fusus. Dead spindle (Mach.), a spindle in a machine tool that does not revolve; the spindle of the tailstock of a lathe. Live spindle (Mach.), the revolving spindle of a machine tool; the spindle of the headstock of a turning lathe. Spindle shell. (Zo["o]l.) See Spindle, 7. above. Spindle side, the female side in descent; in the female line; opposed to spear side. --Ld. Lytton. [R.] ``King Lycaon, grandson, by the spindle side, of Oceanus.'' --Lowell. Spindle tree (Bot.), any shrub or tree of the genus Eunymus. The wood of E. Europ[ae]us was used for spindles and skewers. See Prickwood.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Spindle Spin"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Spindled; p. pr. & vb. n. Spindling.] To shoot or grow into a long, slender stalk or body; to become disproportionately tall and slender. It has begun to spindle into overintellectuality. --Lowell.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(spindles) 1. A spindle is a rod in a machine, around which another part of the machine turns. N-COUNT 2. A spindle is a pointed rod which you use when you are spinning wool by hand. You twist the wool with the spindle to make it into a thread. N-COUNT

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

spin'-d'-l.

See SPINNING.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. (Mech.) Axis, shaft, arbor.

Moby Thesaurus

arbor, axis, axle, axle bar, axle shaft, axle spindle, axle-tree, distaff, fulcrum, gimbal, gudgeon, hinge, hingle, hub, mandrel, nave, oarlock, pin, pintle, pivot, pole, radiant, rowlock, swivel, trunnion