What symptom is defined as a sensation of spinning or dizziness?

The symptom defined as a sensation of spinning or dizziness is vertigo. Vertigo is specifically associated with the perception that either you or the environment around you is moving or spinning. This condition often arises from issues within the inner ear or the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation.

Dizziness is a broader term that can describe various feelings of unsteadiness or lightheadedness and does not specifically convey the spinning sensation characteristic of vertigo. Nausea refers to the feeling of wanting to vomit and is not primarily related to a sensation of movement. Disorientation involves confusion about time, place, or identity, which again does not capture the specific sensation of spinning associated with vertigo. Therefore, the distinction lies in the specific experience of movement perception that defines vertigo as a distinct symptom.