Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun spindle

5 senses of spindle

Sense 1
spindle -- ((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")
       => fiber, fibre -- (a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn)

Sense 2
spindle -- (a piece of wood that has been turned on a lathe; used as a baluster, chair leg, etc.)
       => piece -- (a separate part of a whole; "an important piece of the evidence")

Sense 3
spindle, mandrel, mandril, arbor -- (any of various rotating shafts that serve as axes for larger rotating parts)
       => rotating shaft, shaft -- (a revolving rod that transmits power or motion)

Sense 4
spindle -- (a stick or pin used to twist the yarn in spinning)
       => stick -- (an implement consisting of a length of wood; "he collected dry sticks for a campfire"; "the kid had a candied apple on a stick")

Sense 5
spike, spindle -- (any holding device consisting of a rigid, sharp-pointed object; "the spike pierced the receipts and held them in order")
       => holding device -- (a device for holding something)