Definition of "spindle"

(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.  quotations  examples

A rod which turns, or on which something turns.  quotations  examples

A rotary axis of a machine tool or power tool.  examples

Certain of the species of the genus Euonymus, originally used for making the spindles used for spinning wool.  examples

An upright spike for holding paper documents by skewering.  examples

The fusee of a watch.  examples

A long and slender stalk resembling a spindle.  examples

A yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards; in linen yarn, 14,400 yards.  examples

(geometry) A solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about its base or double ordinate or chord.  examples

Any marine univalve shell of the genus Tibia; a spindle stromb.  examples

Any marine gastropod with a spindle-shaped shell formerly in one of the three invalid genera called Fusus.  examples

(biology) A cytoskeletal structure formed during mitosis

(coastal New Jersey) a dragonfly, calque of Swedish slända (dragonfly/spindle), introduced by New Sweden settlers.  examples

(computing) A plastic container for packaging optical discs. Bulk blank CDs, DVDs, and BDs are often sold in such a package.  examples

A muscle spindle.  examples

A sleep spindle.  quotations  examples

(transitive) To make into a long tapered shape.  examples

(intransitive) To take on a long tapered shape.  examples

(transitive) To impale on a device for holding paper documents.  examples