spindle

A rod that turns, or that another part turns around.

• The wheel turns on a spindle.
• A worn spindle made the machine shake.
• Check both spindles before starting the motor.

Similar words: shaft, axle

Common phrases: motor spindle, lathe spindle, rotating spindle

A thin rod used to twist wool or other soft material into thread and wind it up.

• She wound the wool onto a spindle.
• The spindle turned as she made thread.
• They used wooden spindles to spin the yarn.

Common phrases: drop spindle, spinning spindle, wooden spindle

A shrub or small tree with colorful fruit, whose wood was once used to make thread-making rods.

• A spindle grows beside the hedge.
• The spindle has bright pink fruit in autumn.
• Several spindles were planted along the path.

Similar words: spindle tree

Common phrases: spindle tree, japanese spindle

An upright metal spike that holds papers pushed onto it.

• The clerk put the receipt on a spindle.
• Old bills filled the spindle on his desk.
• Two spindles held the used tickets.

Similar words: paper spike

Common phrases: receipt spindle, desk spindle, paper spindle

To push a paper onto an upright spike that holds documents.

• The clerk spindled each receipt.
• Please do not spindle this form.
• He folded and spindled the old bills.

Similar words: impale

Common phrases: spindle a receipt, spindle a document