Theme: Things That Spin

Some spin for work, some for fun, and some for stability. Every answer in this puzzle can be set in a spin.

9 themed words All 26 letters covered Vowels shown in gold Consonants hidden in blue
1
  A  
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  1. Moves air
  2. Has blades
  3. Often cools a room
  4. Spins its blades to move air
Reveal answer
F A N
Background information
A fan rotates a set of blades to create airflow. Fans are used for cooling, ventilation, and air circulation.
2
    O  
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  1. Held with a hand
  2. Often round
  3. Found on doors and controls
  4. Can spin or turn around its center
Reveal answer
K N O B
Background information
Many knobs rotate around a central shaft. Turning them can open a door, adjust a setting, or operate a mechanism.
3
    E E  
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  1. Usually circular
  2. Found on vehicles
  3. Turns around an axle
  4. Spins to enable movement
Reveal answer
W H E E L
Background information
A wheel rotates around an axle and is one of the fundamental mechanical inventions used for transportation and machinery.
4
  I   E  
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  1. Common kitchen appliance
  2. Combines ingredients
  3. Uses rotating attachments
  4. Spins beaters or paddles while working
Reveal answer
M I X E R
Background information
A mixer uses rotating beaters, whisks, or paddles to combine, beat, or knead ingredients.
5
  U I   E  
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  1. Used with fruits or vegetables
  2. Extracts liquid
  3. A kitchen appliance
  4. Some types spin rapidly to separate juice
Reveal answer
J U I C E R
Background information
Centrifugal juicers spin produce at high speed, using centrifugal force to separate juice from pulp.
6
  U A     E  
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  1. A piece of money
  2. Worth twenty-five cents in the US
  3. Can balance briefly on its edge
  4. Spins on its edge before falling
Reveal answer
Q U A R T E R
Background information
A quarter is a U.S. coin worth 25 cents. Like other coins, it can be flicked or twisted so that it spins on its edge before losing energy and falling.
7
      O     O   E
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  1. Used to sense orientation
  2. Associated with navigation
  3. Relies on rotational motion
  4. A device that spins to stay balanced and stable
Reveal answer
G Y R O S C O P E
Background information
A gyroscope uses rotational motion and angular momentum to maintain or measure orientation, making gyroscopic principles useful in navigation, stabilization, and motion sensing.
8
  A         I   E
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  1. Stores digital data
  2. Found in computers
  3. Traditional versions have platters
  4. Its internal disks spin rapidly
Reveal answer
H A R D D R I V E
Background information
A traditional hard disk drive stores data on magnetic platters that spin at high speed while read/write heads access information.
9
  I     A   O U    
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  1. Starts with flour and water
  2. Used to make a popular dish
  3. May be tossed by hand
  4. Can be spun while being stretched into shape
Reveal answer
P I Z Z A D O U G H
Background information
Pizza makers can toss and spin dough while stretching it into a round base. Rotation helps spread the dough outward while maintaining a roughly circular shape.

Spin Trivia

🌀 Staying Stable
Gyroscopic effects help rotating objects resist changes to their orientation and are used in many navigation and stabilization systems.
🍕 The Pizza Toss
Skilled pizza makers can rotate dough while tossing it, helping stretch the dough outward into a thin, rounded base.
💾 Thousands of Turns
Traditional hard-drive platters commonly rotate thousands of times per minute while the drive is operating.
🪙 Give It a Spin
A spinning coin gradually loses energy through friction and air resistance until it begins to wobble and falls.
🌬️ Moving Air
A fan's rotating blades create pressure differences that push air and produce a continuous flow.
🥤 Spin to Separate
Centrifugal juicers use rapid rotation to separate liquid juice from much of the solid pulp.