What is the term for a rope's tendency to rotate and untwist when under load?

The correct term for a rope's tendency to rotate and untwist when under load is "spinning." When a rope is subjected to tension, it can experience forces that cause it to rotate around its own axis, leading to a phenomenon known as spinning. This is particularly relevant in rigging and hoisting applications, where understanding the behavior of ropes under load is crucial for safe operations.

Cabling refers to the arrangement of several wires or ropes into a single unit, which does not accurately describe the behavior of a rope under a load. Twisting generally refers to the action of turning something, but it does not specifically capture the characteristic of a rope rotating as it bears weight. Rotation is a broader term that may encompass various types of rotational movement but lacks the specificity required to describe the unique twisting action of a rope when it is under load.