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spin|na|ker /sp I nəkə ^r / (spinnakers ) N‑COUNT A spinnaker is a large, light, triangular sail that is attached to the front mast of a boat.

spin|ner /sp I nə ^r / (spinners )

1 N‑COUNT A spinner is a cricketer who makes the ball spin when he or she bowls it so that it changes direction when it hits the ground or the bat.

2 N‑COUNT A spinner is a person who makes thread by spinning.

spin|ney /sp I ni/ (spinneys ) N‑COUNT A spinney is a small area covered with trees. [BRIT ] in AM, use copse

spi n|ning wheel (spinning wheels ) also spinning-wheel N‑COUNT A spinning wheel is a wooden machine that people used in their homes to make thread from wool, in former times.

spi n-off (spin-offs )

1 N‑COUNT A spin-off is an unexpected but useful or valuable result of an activity that was designed to achieve something else. □ [+ from/of ] The company put out a report on commercial spin-offs from its research.

2 N‑COUNT A spin-off is a book, film, or television series that comes after and is related to a successful book, film, or television series.

spin|ster /sp I nstə ^r / (spinsters ) N‑COUNT A spinster is a woman who has never been married; used especially when talking about an old or middle-aged woman. [OLD-FASHIONED ] WORD HISTORY spinster

A spinster was originally a spinner , that is, a person – not necessarily a woman – whose occupation was spinning. It is said that a young woman was not considered fit to be a wife until she had spun a certain amount of household linen. Hence, the word came to designate an unmarried woman.

spiny /spa I ni/ ADJ A spiny plant or animal is covered with long sharp points. □  …a spiny lobster. □  …a spiny cactus.

spi|ral /spa I ə rəl/ (spirals , spiralling , spiralled ) in AM, use spiraling , spiraled 1 N‑COUNT A spiral is a shape which winds round and round, with each curve above or outside the previous one. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Spiral is also an adjective. □  …a spiral staircase.

2 VERB If something spirals or is spiralled somewhere, it grows or moves in a spiral curve. □ [V adv/prep] Vines spiraled upward toward the roof. □ [be V -ed] Did you notice whether the roots were spiralled round the pot? [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Spiral is also a noun. □  Larks were rising in spirals from the ridge.

3 VERB If an amount or level spirals , it rises quickly and at an increasing rate. □ [V ] Production costs began to spiral. □ [V -ing] …a spiralling trend of violence. □ [V adv/prep] The unemployment rate is spiralling upwards. ● N‑SING Spiral is also a noun. □  …an inflationary spiral. □  …a spiral of debt.

4 VERB If an amount or level spirals downwards, it falls quickly and at an increasing rate. □ [V adv/prep] House prices will continue to spiral downwards.

spire /spa I ə ^r / (spires ) N‑COUNT The spire of a building such as a church is the tall pointed structure on the top.

spir|it ◆◆◇ /sp I r I t/ (spirits , spiriting , spirited )

1 N‑SING Your spirit is the part of you that is not physical and that consists of your character and feelings. □  The human spirit is virtually indestructible.

2 → see also kindred spirit

3 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] A person's spirit is the non-physical part of them that is believed to remain alive after their death. □  His spirit has left him and all that remains is the shell of his body.

4 N‑COUNT A spirit is a ghost or supernatural being. □  …protection against evil spirits.

5 → see also Holy Spirit

6 N‑UNCOUNT Spirit is the courage and determination that helps people to survive in difficult times and to keep their way of life and their beliefs. □  She was a very brave girl and everyone who knew her admired her spirit.

7 N‑UNCOUNT Spirit is the liveliness and energy that someone shows in what they do. □  They played with spirit.