Webster's English Dictionary

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spindle

1. spin.dle \'spin-d*l\ n [ME spindel, fr. OE spinel; akin to OE spinnan to 
   spin] 1a: a round stick with tapered ends used to form and twist the yarn 
   in hand  spinning 1b: the long slender pin by which the thread is twisted 
   in a spinning wheel  1c: any of the various rods or pins holding a bobbin 
   in a spinning frame or  other textile machine 1d: the pin in a loom shuttle 
    2: something shaped like a spindle (as a spindle-shaped achromatic figure 
   a long which the chromosomes are distributed during mitosis) 3a: the bar or 
   shaft usu. of square section that carries the knobs and actu ates the latch 
   or bolt of a lock 3b1: a turned often decorative piece  3b2: NEWEL  3c1: a 
   revolving piece esp. if less in size than a shaft  3c2: a horizontal or 
   vertical axle revolving on pin or pivot ends  3c3: a rod attached to a 
   valve to move or guide it  3d: the part of an axle on which a vehicle wheel 
   turns 
2. spindle \-(d)lin, -(d)l*n, -d*l-in, -d*l-*n\ vb or spin.dling 1: to 
   shoot or grow into a long slender stalk  2: to grow to stalk or stem rather 
   than to flower or fruit  : to impale, thrust, or perforate on the spike of 
   a spindle file