spindle (redirected from muscle spindle)

spindle: see spinning.

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spindle

A rotating shaft in a disk drive. In a fixed disk, the platters are attached to the spindle. In a removable disk, the spindle remains in the drive. Laptops use spindle designations to indicate the number of built-in drives. For example, a two-spindle machine contains a hard drive and a second bay for an optical drive.

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spindle

1. a rod or stick that has a notch in the top, used to draw out natural fibres for spinning into thread, and a long narrow body around which the thread is wound when spun

2. one of the thin rods or pins bearing bobbins upon which spun thread is wound in a spinning wheel or machine

3. any of various parts in the form of a rod, esp a rotating rod that acts as an axle, mandrel, or arbor

4. a measure of length of yarn equal to 18 hanks (15 120 yards) for cotton or 14 400 yards for linen

5. Biology a spindle-shaped structure formed by microtubules during mitosis or meiosis which draws the duplicated chromosomes apart as the cell divides

6. a less common name for a hydrometer

7. a tall pole with a marker at the top, fixed to an underwater obstruction as an aid to navigation

8. a device consisting of a sharp upright spike on a pedestal on which bills, order forms, etc., are impaled

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spindle [′spin·dəl]

(cell and molecular biology)

A structure formed of fiberlike elements just before metaphase that extends between the poles of the achromatic figure and is attached to the centromeric regions of the chromatid pairs.

(design engineering)

A short, slender or tapered shaft.

(navigation)

A spar serving as a beacon.