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spindling

 - 8 dictionary results
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spin⋅dling

  [spind-ling]
–adjective
1. long or tall and slender, often disproportionately so.
2. growing into a long, slender stalk or stem, often too slender or weak to remain upright.
–noun
3. a spindling person or thing.
Use spindling in a Sentence
Origin:
1740–50; spindle + -ing 2 , -ing 1
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spin⋅dle

  [spin-dl] noun, adjective, verb, -dled, -dling.
–noun
1. a rounded rod, usually of wood, tapering toward each end, used in hand-spinning to twist into thread the fibers drawn from the mass on the distaff, and on which the thread is wound as it is spun.
2. the rod on a spinning wheel by which the thread is twisted and on which it is wound.
3. one of the rods of a spinning machine that bear the bobbins on which the spun thread is wound.
4. any rod or pin suggestive of a spindle used in spinning, as one that turns around or on which something turns; an axle, axis, or shaft.
5. a vertical shaft that serves to center a phonograph record on a turntable.
6. either of two shafts or arbors that support the work on a lathe, one (live spindle) on the headstock, rotating with and imparting motion to the work, the other (dead spindle) on the tailstock, motionless.
7. a small axis, arbor, or mandrel.
8. an iron rod or the like, usually with a ball or cage at the top, fixed to a rock, sunken reef, etc., to serve as a guide in navigation.
9. a measure of yarn, containing, for cotton, 15,120 yards (13,825 m), and for linen, 14,400 yards (13,267 m).
10. a hydrometer.
11. Cell Biology. a spindle-shaped structure, composed of microtubules, that forms near the cell nucleus during mitosis or meiosis and, as it divides, draws the chromosomes to opposite poles of the cell.
12. a short, turned or circular ornament, as in a baluster or stair rail.
13. spindle file.
14. Eastern New England. a tassel on an ear of corn.
15. Chiefly New Jersey and Delaware Valley. dragonfly.
–adjective
16. spindle side.
–verb (used with object)
17. to give the form of a spindle to.
18. to provide or equip with a spindle or spindles.
19. to impale (a card or paper) on a spindle, as for sorting purposes.
–verb (used without object)
20. to shoot up, or grow, into a long, slender stalk or stem, as a plant.
21. to grow tall and slender, often disproportionately so.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME spindel (n.), OE spin(e)l; see spin, -le; c. G Spindel

Related forms:
spin⋅dle⋅like, adjective

Regional variation note:
15. See dragonfly.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To spindling
spin·dle   (spĭn'dl)   
n.  

    1. A rod or pin, tapered at one end and usually weighted at the other, on which fibers are spun by hand into thread and then wound.

    2. A similar rod or pin used for spinning on a spinning wheel.

    3. A pin or rod holding a bobbin or spool on which thread is wound on an automated spinning machine.

    4. A spike on which papers may be impaled.

    5. A baluster.

  2. Any of various mechanical parts that revolve or serve as axes for larger revolving parts, as in a lock, axle, phonograph turntable, or lathe.

  3. Any of various long thin stationary rods, as:

    1. A spike on which papers may be impaled.

    2. A baluster.

  4. Biology The spindle-shaped achromatic structure, composed of microtubules, along which the chromosomes are distributed in mitosis and meiosis.

  5. Coastal New Jersey See dragonfly. See Regional Note at dragonfly.

v.   spin·dled, spin·dling, spin·dles

v.   tr.

  1. To furnish or equip with a spindle or spindles.

  2. To impale or perforate on a spindle: Do not fold, spindle, or mutilate this card.

v.   intr.
To grow into a thin, elongated, or weak form.

[Middle English spindel, alteration of Old English spinel; see (s)pen- in Indo-European roots.]
spin·dling   (spĭnd'lĭng)   
adj.  Spindly.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

spindle 
O.E. spinel, prop. "an instrument for spinning," from stem of spinnan (see spin), with intrusive -d-. Related to O.S. spinnila, O.Fris. spindel, O.H.G. spinnila, Ger. Spindel. As a type of something slender, it is attested from c.1570. Spindly is from 1651.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: spin·dle
Pronunciation: 'spin-d&l
Function: noun
1 : something shaped like a round stick or pin with tapered ends:as a : a network of chiefly microtubular fibers along which the chromosomes are distributed during mitosis and meiosis b : MUSCLE SPINDLE
2 : SLEEPSPINDLE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source

spindle spin·dle (spĭn'dl)
n.

  1. A fusiform structure, usually composed of microtubules.

  2. Mitotic spindle.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
spindle   (spĭn'dl)  Pronunciation Key 
A network of protein fibers that forms in the cytoplasm of a cell during cell division. The spindle grows forth from the centrosomes and attaches to the chromosomes after the latter have been duplicated, and the nuclear membrane dissolves. Once attached, the spindle fibers contract, pulling the duplicate chromosomes apart to opposite poles of the dividing cell. See more at meiosis, mitosis.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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