Spin (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Spun (?) (Archaicimp.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. √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 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.