noun
tailspin
Tailspin (noun) means a steep, spiraling, uncontrolled descent of an aircraft. Example: “The stunt pilot deliberately put the plane into a tailspin before recovering.”
noun
1
A steep, spiraling, uncontrolled descent of an aircraft.
"The stunt pilot deliberately put the plane into a tailspin before recovering."
2
A sudden, sharp decline or emotional collapse.
"The company's stock went into a tailspin after the scandal broke."
"He went into an emotional tailspin after losing his job."
How to use tailspin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dangerous spinning nosedive in a plane, or figuratively, a sudden sharp decline in something like a business, mood, or economy.
Common pairings
go into a tailspin
economic tailspin
emotional tailspin
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Word forms
- Plural
- tailspins
- Third person singular
- tailspins
- Past tense
- tailspun, tailspinned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The stunt pilot deliberately put the plane into a _____ before recovering.
Etymology
From tail plus spin, describing an aircraft spiraling downward tail-first.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “tailspin” mean?
The word “tailspin” means a steep, spiraling, uncontrolled descent of an aircraft. In plain terms, a dangerous spinning nosedive in a plane, or figuratively, a sudden sharp decline in something like a business, mood, or economy.
How do you use “tailspin” in a sentence?
Here is “tailspin” used in a sentence: “The stunt pilot deliberately put the plane into a tailspin before recovering.”
What part of speech is “tailspin”?
“Tailspin” is a noun.
How many meanings does “tailspin” have?
“Tailspin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a steep, spiraling, uncontrolled descent of an aircraft.
