Tailspin: meaning, definitions and examples

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tailspin

 

[ หˆteษชlหŒspษชn ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

aeronautics

A tailspin refers to a specific type of uncontrolled descent or rotation of an aircraft. It generally occurs when the aircraft's wings lose their lift, causing it to fall rapidly while spinning around its vertical axis. This phenomenon is particularly dangerous, as it can lead to a loss of control and, ultimately, a crash. Pilots are trained to recognize the signs of a tailspin and take appropriate corrective actions to regain control.

Synonyms

descent, spin, tumble

Examples of usage

  • The pilot expertly recovered the plane from a tailspin.
  • During the storm, the fighter jet entered a tailspin.
  • The instructor demonstrated how to avoid a tailspin.
  • After the turbulence, the aircraft almost went into a tailspin.
Context #2 | Noun

figurative

In a figurative sense, a tailspin can describe a situation in which someone or something is rapidly deteriorating or losing control emotionally or psychologically. This usage often reflects a chaotic state that feels spiraling and increasingly hard to manage. For instance, when a person experiences a tailspin in their life, they may face overwhelming stress or anxiety that leads to erratic behavior or decisions.

Synonyms

chaos, collapse, downward spiral

Examples of usage

  • After the breakup, she found herself in a tailspin.
  • His finances went into a tailspin following the job loss.
  • The company's stock entered a tailspin after the scandal was revealed.

Translations

Translations of the word "tailspin" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น caรญda livre

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค—เคฟเคฐเคพเคตเคŸ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Absturz

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ jatuh bebas

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒั–ะปัŒะฝะต ะฟะฐะดั–ะฝะฝั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ swobodny spadek

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆ€ฅ้™ไธ‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท chute libre

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ caรญda libre

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท serbest dรผลŸรผลŸ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ž์œ  ๋‚™ํ•˜

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุณู‚ูˆุท ุญุฑ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ volnรฝ pรกd

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ voฤพnรฝ pรกd

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่‡ช็”ฑไธ‹่ฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ prosto padanje

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ frjรกls fall

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะตั€ะบั–ะฝ า›าฑะปะฐัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ—แƒแƒ•แƒ˜แƒกแƒฃแƒคแƒแƒšแƒ˜ แƒ“แƒแƒชแƒ”แƒ›แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ azad dรผลŸmษ™

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ caรญda libre

Etymology

The term 'tailspin' was first recorded in the early 20th century, appearing in aviation contexts when aircraft were becoming more prevalent and flight principles were being formalized. The word is a compound of 'tail', which refers to the back part of an aircraft, and 'spin', indicating a circular motion. The military and commercial aviation sectors began using the term as pilots witnessed the phenomenon during training and real flights. Over time, its figurative usage emerged as people started applying the term to describe various chaotic scenarios in life where individuals or organizations felt they were losing control. This dual applicability of the term has allowed 'tailspin' to remain relevant in both technical and everyday discussions.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,221, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.