( X zl ) 2 Spinning™ a type of exercise performed on an exercise bike, usually in a class (

#)

'spinning wheel noun a simple machine that people used in their homes in the past for twisting wool, etc. It has a large wheel operated with the foot. (, |j3B|#

rammi,          mmmjk)

'spin-off noun ~ (from/of sth) 1 an unexpected but useful result of an activity that is designed to produce sth else (   commercial

spin-offs from medical research

{k # S'J X op 2 a book, a film/movie, a television programme, or an object that is based on a book, film/ movie or television series that has been very successful

iS,, jgXX cm: The TV comedy series is a spin-off of the original movie. & g|$ IIH & ©J Jt ft ^ JK ff # I'J X fSt o O spin-off merchandise from the latest Disney movie

spin ster /'spinst0(r)/ noun (old-fashioned, often disap­proving) a woman who is not married, especially an older woman who is not likely to marry IMHJ This word should not now be used to mean simply a woman who is not married. ®4v XRTXj&X X ® Ib X &ii A X n — compare bachelor(I) spin­ster-hood /-hud/ noun [U]: For most women, marriage used to bring a higher status than spinsterhood. fkm,

aw*

spiny /'spaini/ adj. (of animals or plants zft <$} m fl %j) having sharp points like needles W   #; 0

fij# — see also spine(2) spiny 'anteater noun = echidna

spiral staircase

spiral /'spairal/ noun, adj., verb

mnoun 1 a shape or design, consisting of a continuous curved line that winds around a central point, with each curve further away from the centre         ; 4KSI

A: The birds circled in a slow spiral above the house. ^ ? ± M &L& M o 2 a continuous harmful increase or decrease in sth, that gradually gets faster and faster M ffr #P ii ± ft ( T (# ) the destructive spiral of violence in the inner cities itTAA^KEBliitX Jr # H A fj A O measures to control the inflationary spiral &    &      o the upward/

downward spiral of sales B$j±;Ft'/TP£#ii=l1l$li adj. moving in a continuous curve that winds around a central point M (ft ; $1 SI ^ ft : A snail’s shell is spiral inform.      ►spiral lyadv.

m verb ( II-, NAmE usually -I-) [V, usually +adv./prep.] 1 to move in continuous circles, going upwards or down­wards     ( DcT® ) ;   ( j&Ti# ) :

The plane spiralled down to the ground.

2 to increase rapidly M S'J it! j£: the spiralling cost of health care     0 Prices are spiralling

out of control. 4ft X if, ki f'J I3SEIM .spiral down/'downward to decrease rapidly ,spiral-1 bound adj. (of a book -ft) held together by wire which is wound through holes along one edge

im

.spiral 'staircase noun a set of stairs that curve upwards around a central post ®

1939   spirit

spir-ant /'spaiarant/ noun, adj. {NAmE, phonetics if fr)

= FRICATIVE

spire /'spaia(r)/ noun a tall pointed structure on the top of a building, especially a church ( fSc##® nPft ) A

m, km

spirit ow /'spirit/ noun, verb m noun

                 MIND/FEELINGS/CHARACTER    [iff; 1 [U, C] the

part of a person that includes their mind, feelings and character rather than their body jf # ; X M : the power of the human spirit to overcome difficulties AAA HSjEtftff# AM 2 spirits [pi.] a person’s feelings or state of mind If £#; A” to be in high/low spirits 'If

iSJ / # o You must try and keep your spirits up , (= stay cheerful). %0 % i& X U W M fh ft 'if ‘k P 0 My spirits sank at the prospect of starting all over again. IJ,

m-wunfkkftk, aftt#*#- - rP 3 ta

(always with an adjective      a person of

the type mentioned ( 3f#A§!ft ) A: a brave spirit Hlftft A 0 kindred spirits (= people who like the same things as you) II ig&ft A — see also free spirit

                 COURAGE/DETERMINATION -f) l\ : A X 4 [U] courage, determination or energy M Hi M H ; M ife ; if A : Show a little fighting spirit, g kM th A A A o o Although the team lost, they played with tremendous spirit. )XH T, fl PA M M # ® A H M B o They took away his freedom and broke his spirit. (Ml ^ A Tiff# §

                 LOYAL FEELINGS A4/ 5 [U, sing.] loyal feelings towards a

group, team or society ( ^0^, Mu    ) &p:

There’s not much community spirit around here,

RMMM o — see also team spirit

                 ATTITUDE Aft: 6 [sing.] a state of mind or mood; an atti­

tude A' ^JS: Wie approached the situation in the wrong spirit. It ill W M At I# M ft &AA A A Zt o o ‘OK, I’ll try.’ ‘That’s the spirit (= the right attitude).’ “£FUE, It AKKo ”       ” o The party went well because

everyone entered into the spirit of things. E&^HSjAltf, gfA-t' AlPII 15: Ao — see also party spirit

                 TYPICAL QUALITY U ^ f 7 [sing.] the typical or most important quality or mood of sth A Oft; IfM; SAH #: The exhibition captures the spirit of the age/times.

                 REAL MEANING I't A ft X 8 [U] the real or intended

meaning or purpose of sth    X;      : Obey the

spirit, not the letter (= the narrow meaning of the words) of the law.

fSo

                 SOUL 9 [C] the soul thought of as separate from the

body and believed to live on after death; a ghost M *J&;  He is dead, but his spirit lives on.

T , fS life   0 It was believed that people

could be possessed by evil spirits. Mm, A 111 Ilfs A A AT — see also Holy Spirit

                 IMAGINARY CREATURE "AAAjAA 10 [C] {old-fashioned) an imaginary creature with magic powers, for example,

a fairy or an elf# A

                 ALCOHOL riff 11 [C, usually pi.] (especially BrE) a strong

alcoholic drink : I don’t drink whisky or brandy or any other spirits. ItZFIsfctbIn 0

12 [U] a special type of alcohol used in industry or medicine X it M If;  — see also methyl­

ated SPIRIT, SURGICAL SPIRIT, WHITE SPIRIT ITTm in ' spirit in your thoughts fei> Mil % IS # A: I shall be with you in spirit (~ thinking about you though not with you physically). lt#>ll'#|R#lfe — the .spirit is willing (but the .flesh is weak) (humorous, saying) you intend to do good things but you are too lazy, weak or busy to actually do them Avj^[II#£®;f| , P^#£RDc3i;        AX/AA as/when/if the

.spirit 'moves you as/when/if you feel like it IcJliSfS:

#                 if: I’ll go for a run this evening, if the spirit moves

me.    iWAitftJif, !t^A$ii£0 —more at

FIGHT V., RAISE V.

mverb [VN +adv./prep.] to take sb/sth away in a quick, secret or mysterious way # fif ?]? X ; i± A X X S A if

X : After the concert; the band was spirited away