Spun is the past tense of the verb spin, which means to turn rapidly around a central point. When a figure skater spins on the ice, her body rotates quickly in one spot. When you spin a top, it whirls around and around on its point. A washing machine spins clothes to remove water after the rinse cycle.

The word also describes the action of making thread or yarn by twisting fibers together. For thousands of years, people spun wool or cotton into thread using tools like spinning wheels. Someone might say “She spun the wool into yarn” to describe this ancient craft that clothed humanity before factories existed.

Spun can also mean to tell a story, especially one that's elaborate or perhaps not entirely true. A politician might spin the facts to make herself look better, or a student might spin a creative tale about why his homework is late. When someone puts a spin on something, they're presenting it from a particular angle or perspective.

You might also hear phrases like “my head is spinning,” which means feeling dizzy or overwhelmed, or “spin your wheels,” meaning to work hard without making progress.