spinning

Everyday

1. Spinning means turning round and round quickly on the spot. tree →
2. Spinning is making thread by twisting wool or cotton fibres, like on a spinning wheel. tree →
3. A spider is spinning when it makes silk to build a web. tree →
4. If your head is spinning, you feel dizzy or very confused. tree →
5. Spinning is also an exercise on a bike that stays in one place. tree →

In the lessons

In science: the Earth is spinning on its axis, which makes day and night; one full spin takes about 24 hours. Tops, wheels, fans and washing machines spin. In history lessons, spinning wool into thread was a big job before factories. Safety: spinning fast can make you dizzy and fall; keep fingers and hair away from spinning machines and fan blades. Phrases: «spinning top», «spinning wheel», «my head is spinning», «spin round».

Examples

• The Earth is spinning all the time. tree →
• The top kept spinning on the table. tree →
• We were spinning round on the playground roundabout. tree →
• The spider was spinning a web in the corner. tree →
• After the ride my head was spinning. tree →
• Keep your fingers away from the spinning fan. tree →
• In the fairy tale, the princess pricked her finger on a spinning wheel. tree →
• The washing machine is spinning the clothes dry. tree →
• A young housewife was spinning late one evening. tree →

Note

Irregular past: «spin, spun, spun» (not «spinned»). Double the n: «spinning». Fact: we do not feel the Earth spinning because we move with it smoothly.