spindle Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun (biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in the middle
- chromosomes are distributed by spindles in mitosis and meiosis
noun a piece of wood that has been turned on a lathe; used as a baluster, chair leg, etc.
noun any of various rotating shafts that serve as axes for larger rotating parts
arbor; mandrel; mandril.
noun a stick or pin used to twist the yarn in spinning
noun any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed object
spike.
- the spike pierced the receipts and held them in order

AS. spinal, fr. spinnan to spin; akin to D. spil, G. spille, spindel, OHG. spinnala. See Spin.

The long, round, slender rod or pin in spinning wheels by which the thread is twisted, and on which, when twisted, it is wound; also, the pin on which the bobbin is held in a spinning machine, or in the shuttle of a loom.
A slender rod or pin on which anything turns; an axis; as, the spindle of a vane. Specifically: -- (a) (Mach.) The shaft, mandrel, or arbor, in a machine tool, as a lathe or drilling machine, etc., which causes the work to revolve, or carries a tool or center, etc. (b) (Mach.) The vertical rod on which the runner of a grinding mill turns. (c) (Founding) A shaft or pipe on which a core of sand is formed.
The fusee of a watch.
A long and slender stalk resembling a spindle.
A yarn measure containing, in cotton yarn, 15,120 yards; in linen yarn, 14,400 yards.
(Geom.) A solid generated by the revolution of a curved line about its base or double ordinate or chord.
(Zoöl.) (a) Any marine univalve shell of the genus Rostellaria; -- called also spindle stromb. (b) Any marine gastropod of the genus Fusus.

imperfect & past participle Spindled; present participle & verbal noun Spindling

To shoot or grow into a long, slender stalk or body; to become disproportionately tall and slender.
It has begun to spindle into overintellectuality. Lowell.