nounπShare(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."The museum exhibit showed a woman using a spindle to twist wool fibers into yarn. "technologyutensilmachineindustryChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA rod which turns, or on which something turns."the spindle of a vane"machineparttechnicalChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA rotary axis of a machine tool or power tool."The woodworker carefully adjusted the speed of the drill's spindle to prevent burning the delicate wood. "machinetechnicalpartChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareCertain of the species of the genus Euonymus, originally used for making the spindles used for spinning wool."My grandmother remembers her mother growing spindle in the garden not for its pretty leaves, but to harvest the wood for making tools used in spinning yarn. "plantmaterialmachinebiologynatureindustryChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareAn upright spike for holding paper documents by skewering."The busy waitress quickly added the order slip to the spindle on the kitchen counter. "stationeryitemwritingChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareThe fusee of a watch."The watchmaker carefully cleaned the spindle, a critical component connecting the fusee to the movement of the antique pocket watch. "technologymachinedevicetimetechnicalChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA long and slender stalk resembling a spindle."The thin, central part of the flower, the spindle, held the delicate petals together. "partmaterialstructureChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards; in linen yarn, 14,400 yards."The textile factory produces several spindle of cotton yarn each day, totaling over 15,000 yards per spindle. "materialunitnumbertechnicalindustryChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about its base or double ordinate or chord."The woodworker used a lathe to shape the baseball bat, creating a smooth spindle as the wood revolved around its axis. "mathfigureChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareAny marine univalve shell of the genus Tibia; a spindle stromb."The collector carefully placed the delicate spindle next to the other rare seashells in her display. "animalnauticalbiologyoceanChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareAny marine gastropod with a spindle-shaped shell formerly in one of the three invalid genera called Fusus."The shell collector carefully identified the elongated, pointy shell as a spindle, noting its resemblance to the obsolete Fusus genus. "animaloceanbiologyChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA cytoskeletal structure formed during mitosis"During cell division in science class, we learned that the spindle is crucial for separating chromosomes correctly. "biologyanatomyphysiologystructureChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShare(coastal New Jersey) a dragonfly, calque of Swedish slΓ€nda (dragonfly/spindle), introduced by New Sweden settlers."While visiting the Jersey shore near where New Sweden settlers once lived, my grandfather pointed to a dragonfly and called it a "spindle." "languageinsectbiologynaturewordplaceChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verbπShareTo make into a long tapered shape."The artist used a special tool to spindle the clay into a long, elegant neck for the vase. "technicalmachineprocessChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verbπShareTo take on a long tapered shape."The carrot began to spindle as it sat in the refrigerator for too long. "appearanceChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verbπShareTo impale on a device for holding paper documents."Do not fold, spindle or mutilate this document."stationeryitemutensildeviceChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading