1. whirl(n = noun.event) commotion - confused movement; "he was caught up in a whirl of work"; "a commotion of people fought for the exits"
is a kind of motion, movement
Derived forms verb whirl3, verb whirl5, verb whirl1
2. whirl(n = noun.shape) convolution, swirl, vortex - the shape of something rotating rapidly;
is a kind of round shape
Derived forms verb whirl4, verb whirl2
3. whirl(n = noun.act) crack, fling, go, offer, pass - a usually brief attempt; "he took a crack at it"; "I gave it a whirl"
is a kind of attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try
4. whirl(n = noun.act) spin, twirl, twist, twisting - the act of rotating rapidly; "he gave the crank a spin"; "it broke off after much twisting"
is a kind of rotary motion, rotation
has particulars: pirouette, birling, logrolling
Derived forms verb whirl4, verb whirl2
1. whirl(v = verb.motion) swirl, twiddle, twirl - turn in a twisting or spinning motion; "The leaves swirled in the autumn wind"
is one way to go around, revolve, rotate
Derived forms noun whirl1, noun whirling1
Sample sentences:
The wooden sticks whirl
2. whirl(v = verb.motion) birl, spin, twirl - cause to spin; "spin a coin"
is one way to circumvolve, rotate
Derived forms noun whirl4, noun whirl2
Sample sentences:
The girls whirl the wooden sticks
3. whirl(v = verb.motion) eddy, purl, swirl, whirlpool - flow in a circular current, of liquids;
is one way to course, feed, flow, run
Derived form noun whirl1
Sample sentences:
Something ----s
4. whirl(v = verb.motion) gyrate, reel, spin, spin around - revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis; "The dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy"
is one way to go around, revolve, rotate
Derived forms noun whirl4, noun whirl2, noun whirler2, noun whirler1
Sample sentences:
Something is ----ing PP; Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s PP
5. whirl(v = verb.motion) tumble, whirl around - fly around; "The clothes tumbled in the dryer"; "rising smoke whirled in the air"
is one way to move
Derived form noun whirl1
Sample sentences:
Something ----s; Something is ----ing PP
1. To turn round rapidly; to cause to rotate with velocity; to make to revolve. [1913 Webster]
"He whirls his sword around without delay." [1913 Webster]
2. To remove or carry quickly with, or as with, a revolving motion; to snatch; to harry. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
"See, see the chariot, and those rushing wheels,
That whirled the prophet up at Chebar flood." [1913 Webster]
"The passionate heart of the poet is whirl'd into folly." [1913 Webster]
1. To be turned round rapidly; to move round with velocity; to revolve or rotate with great speed; to gyrate. J. H. Newman. [1913 Webster]
"The wooden engine flies and whirls about." [1913 Webster]
2. To move hastily or swiftly. [1913 Webster]
"But whirled away to shun his hateful sight." [1913 Webster]
1. A turning with rapidity or velocity; rapid rotation or circumvolution; quick gyration; rapid or confusing motion; as, the whirl of a top; the whirl of a wheel. J. H. Newman. [1913 Webster]
"The rapid . . . whirl of things here below interrupt not the inviolable rest and calmness of the noble beings above." [1913 Webster]
2. Anything that moves with a whirling motion. [1913 Webster]
"He saw Falmouth under gray, iron skies, and whirls of March dust." [1913 Webster]
3. A revolving hook used in twisting, as the hooked spindle of a rope machine, to which the threads to be twisted are attached. [1913 Webster]
4. A whorl. See Whorl. [1913 Webster]
whirl, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. & intr. swing round and round; revolve rapidly.
2 tr. & intr. (foll. by away) convey or go rapidly in a vehicle etc.
3 tr. & intr. send or travel swiftly in an orbit or a curve.
4 intr. a (of the brain, senses, etc.) seem to spin round. b (of thoughts etc.) be confused; follow each other in bewildering succession.
--n.
1 a whirling movement (vanished in a whirl of dust).
2 a state of intense activity (the social whirl).
3 a state of confusion (my mind is in a whirl).
4 colloq. an attempt (give it a whirl).
Idiom:
whirling dervish see DERVISH.
Derivative:
whirler n. whirlingly adv.
Etymology:
ME: (v.) f. ON hvirfla: (n.) f. MLG & MDu. wervel spindle & ON hvirfill circle f. Gmc
N excitability, impetuosity, vehemence, boisterousness, turbulence, impatience, intolerance, nonendurance, irritability, itching, wincing, disquiet, disquietude, restlessness, fidgets, fidgetiness, agitation, trepidation, perturbation, ruffle, hurry, fuss, flurry, fluster, flutter, pother, stew, ferment, whirl, buck fever, hurry-skurry, thrill, state of excitement, fever of excitement, transport, passion, excitement, flush, heat, fever, heat, fire, flame, fume, blood boiling, tumult, effervescence, ebullition, boiling over, whiff, gust, story, tempest, scene, breaking out, burst, fit, paroxysm, explosion, outbreak, outburst, agony, violence, fierceness, rage, fury, furor, furore, desperation, madness, distraction, raving, delirium, phrensy, frenzy, hysterics, intoxication, tearing passion, raging passion, anger, fascination, infatuation, fanaticism, Quixotism, Quixotry, tete montee, excitable, easily excited, in an excitable state, high-strung, irritable, impatient, intolerant, feverish, febrile, hysterical, delirious, mad, moody, maggoty- headed, unquiet, mercurial, electric, galvanic, hasty, hurried, restless, fidgety, fussy, chafing, startlish, mettlesome, high-mettled, skittish, vehement, demonstrative, violent, wild, furious, fierce, fiery, hot-headed, madcap, overzealous, enthusiastic, impassioned, fanatical, rabid, rampant, clamorous, uproarious, turbulent, tempestuous, tumultuary, boisterous, impulsive, impetuous, passionate, uncontrolled, uncontrollable, ungovernable, irrepressible, stanchless, inextinguishable, burning, simmering, volcanic, ready to burst forth, volatile, excited, exciting, Int, pish!, pshaw!, noli me tangere, filled with fury, rapt, inspir'd, maggiore fretta minore atto.
N rotation, revolution, spinning, gyration, turning about an axis, turning aound an axis, circulation, roll, circumrotation, circumvolution, circumgyration, volutation, circination, turbination, pirouette, convolution, verticity, whir, whirl, eddy, vortex, whirlpool, gurge, countercurrent, Maelstrom, Charybdis, Ixion, cyclone, tornado, whirlwind, dust devil, spin-out, axis, axis of rotation, swivel, pivot, pivot point, axle, spindle, pin, hinge, pole, arbor, bobbin, mandrel, axle shaft, gymbal, hub, hub of rotation, helix, helical motion, angular momentum, angular velocity, revolutions per minute, RPM, centrifugal force, surge, vertigo, dizzy round, coriolus force, carousel, merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, top, dreidel, teetotum, gyroscope, turntable, lazy suzan, screw, whirligig, rollingstone, water wheel, windmill, wheel, pulley wheel, roulette wheel, potter's wheel, pinwheel, gear, roller, flywheel, jack, caster, centrifuge, ultracentrifuge, bench centrifuge, refrigerated centrifuge, gas centrifuge, microfuge, drill, augur, oil rig, wagon wheel, wheel, tire, tyre, trochilics, whirling dervish, rotating, rotary, rotary, circumrotatory, trochilic, vertiginous, gyratory, vortical, vorticose, head over heels, round and round, like a horse in a mill.
VB rotate, roll along, revolve, spin, turn round, circumvolve, circulate, gyre, gyrate, wheel, whirl, pirouette, twirl, trundle, troll, bowl, roll up, furl, wallow, welter, box the compass, spin like a top, spin like a teetotum, spin out.