tailspin

Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Wikipedia.

tail·spin

(tāl′spĭn′)

1. The rapid descent of an aircraft in a steep, spiral spin.

2. Informal A loss of emotional control sometimes resulting in emotional collapse.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

tailspin

(ˈteɪlˌspɪn)

1. (Aeronautics) aeronautics another name for spin¹⁶

2. informal a state of confusion or panic

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

tail•spin

(ˈteɪlˌspɪn)

n., v. -spinned, -spin•ning. n.

1. spin (def. 19).

2. a sudden collapse into failure or confusion.

v.i.

3. to take or experience a sudden and dramatic downturn.

[1910–15]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	tailspin - loss of emotional control often resulting in emotional collapse agitation - a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
	2.	tailspin - rapid descent of an aircraft in a steep spiral spin aerobatics, stunt flying, stunting, acrobatics - the performance of stunts while in flight in an aircraft

Translations

Spanish / Español

Select a language:

tailspin

[ˈteɪlspɪn] N (Aer) → barrena f
the market went into a tailspin (St Ex) → el mercado cayó en picado or (LAm) picada

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Mentioned in ?

References in periodicals archive ?

China's PBoC fixed the yuan under the key 7.00 mark, reversing Monday's 11-year high fixing over 7.00, which sent global equities into a tailspin. WTI crude is liable to remain in sell-the-rally mode for now however, with no end to the trade war in sight.

Energy Action: WTI crude

PS TRUMP'S TARIFF THREATS SEND US MARKETS INTO A TAILSPIN, P7 @henrygrobertson THE EUROPEAN Union yesterday halved its growth prediction for the German economy as it forecast lower growth for the Eurozone as a whole, laying bare the extent of the bloc's economic challenges ahead of a leaders' summit in Romania this week.

TROUBLE AH[euro]AD; EU SLASHES ITS GERMAN GROWTH FORECAST IN HALF BRUSSELS FEARS 'MAJOR SHOCK' FROM TRADE WAR FRESH CLASH LOOMS WITH ITALY OVER BUDGET DEFICIT

The moment that took place during the ceremony of marking the centenary of the end of WWI, captured social media attention and went into a tailspin of sharing

Sleepy Moroccan King Irritates Trump

PetroGazz was bent on finishing off the match in three sets until it suddenly went into tailspin in the third, allowing Pocari, the former champion which has fallen on hard times, to slowly regain its footing.

Former champion Pocari finds old spark, rallies past determined

Summary: It shows the copter rising into the sky before appearing to go into a tailspin and rapidly losing altitude

Watch: New footage of Leicester City helicopter crash emerges

The Indian rupee, which hovered around 68.5 to a dollar until a month ago, went into a tailspin this month.

Indian rupee tumbles to new low

The Turkey lira went on tailspin as the country descended into an economic crisis.

Index recovers as Turkey woes ease

Istanbul President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said Turkey would boycott US electronic goods like the iPhone in retaliation for punitive sanctions from Washington, as the Turkish lira finally clawed back some ground after going into a tailspin over the tensions."We will boycott US electronic goods,"Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara, again showing no sign of compromise in the dispute."If (the United States) have the iPhone, there's Samsung on the other side,"he said, referring to US giant Apple's iconic phone and the top South Korean brand."We (also) have our Venus and Vestel,"he said about homegrown Turkish electronics brands.

Erdogan says Turkey to boycott US electronic goods -

The 35-year-old singer's health was sent into a tailspin in the aftermath of winning The X Factor and struggled to cope with the stresses of fame.

Matt Cardle opens up about 'dark' rehab struggle as he makes big return to music after five years; The 35-year-old singer said that he doesn't 'regret a thing' but admitted that it was a 'culmination of things' that led to his downward spiral

The Spaniard rescued the ailing Hornets when Marco Silva was sacked in January, but he has presided over a familiar tailspin with just one point from five games.

JAVI NEEDS WIN BONUS

Rodgers's side's 4-0 Hampden hammering of the Light Blues in last week's Scottish Cup semi-final sent them into a tailspin with punters protesting and players threatening mutiny.

MURTY WILLU BE BETTER FOR IT

Sometimes, when a club goes into a tailspin such as Villa have over the past year, it needs a man such as Steve Bruce with his steely resolve to turn things around.