spindle Meaning & Definition
What Does Spindle Mean?
Spindle is used as a noun meaning A rod used for spinning and then winding fibres (especially wool), usually consisting of a shaft and a circular whorl positioned at either the upper or lower end of the shaft when suspended vertically from the forming thread. It is also used to mean A rod which turns, or on which something turns. As a verb, it means To make into a long tapered shape.
Word Facts for Spindle
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈspɪndəl// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | arbor, mandrel and mandril |
| Plural | spindles |
| Verb forms | spindles, spindling, spindled |
Spindle Definition (Noun)
- A rod used for spinning and then winding fibres (especially wool), usually consisting of a shaft and a circular whorl positioned at either the upper or lower end of the shaft when suspended vertically from the forming thread.
- A rod which turns, or on which something turns.
the spindle of a vane
- A rotary axis of a machine tool or power tool.
- The axle of a bottom bracket.
- Certain species within the genus Euonymus, historically used to manufacture spindles for wool spinning.
- An upright spike for holding paper documents by skewering.
check spindle
- The fusee of a watch.
- Any long and slender stalk resembling a spindle from Euonymus.
- A yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards; in linen yarn, 14,400 yards.
- A solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about its base or double ordinate or chord.
- Any marine univalve shell of the genus Tibia; a spindle stromb.
- Any marine gastropod with a spindle-shaped shell formerly in one of the three invalid genera called Fusus.
- A cytoskeletal structure formed during mitosis.
- A dragonfly.
- A plastic container for packaging optical discs such as CDs or DVDs, having a central column that passes through the central holes in the discs and keeps them in a stack.
- A muscle spindle.
- A sleep spindle.
Spindle as a Verb
- To make into a long tapered shape.
- To take on a long tapered shape.
- To impale on a device for holding paper documents.
Do not fold, spindle or mutilate this document.
Noun
- (spinning) A rod used for spinning and then winding natural fibres (especially wool), usually consisting of a shaft and a circular whorl positioned at either the upper or lower end of the shaft when suspended vertically from the forming thread.
- Certain of the species of the genus Euonymus, originally used for making the spindles used for spinning wool.
- A long and slender stalk resembling a spindle.
- (coastal New Jersey) a dragonfly, calque of Swedish slända (dragonfly/spindle), introduced by New Sweden settlers.
Synonyms of Spindle
Spindle synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Spindle
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Spindle in a Sentence
the spindle of a vane
check spindle
receipt spindle
Do not fold, spindle or mutilate this document.
Word Forms & Grammar
spindle (plural spindles)
spindle (third-person singular simple present spindles, present participle spindling, simple past and past participle spindled)
Words That Rhyme With Spindle
Origin of Spindle
Origin 1: From Middle English spyndel, spindle, spyndylle, from Old English spindle, spindel, alteration of earlier spinel, spinil, spinl (“spindle”), from Proto-West Germanic *spinnilu (“spindle”), equivalent to spin + -le. Cognate with Scots spindil, spinnell (“spindle”), Dutch spindel ("spindle"; < Middle Dutch spille, spinle), German Spindel (“spindle”), Danish spindel (“spindle”), Swedish spindel (“spindle”).
Origin 2: The dragonfly sense (noun sense 14) is a calque of Swedish slända (dragonfly/spindle); this word was introduced by New Sweden settlers.
How to Pronounce Spindle
Spindle is pronounced //ˈspɪndəl// and has 1 syllable.
Spindle: Your Questions Answered
Is spindle a noun or a verb?
Spindle is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for spindle?
Words with a similar meaning to spindle include arbor, mandrel and mandril. See the full list of spindle synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of spindle?
The plural of spindle is spindles.
What is the past tense of spindle?
The past tense of spindle is spindled. The present participle is spindling.