twirl Hear it!

twirl Definition

twirl (twʉrl)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

  1. to rotate rapidly; spin
  2. to turn rapidly in a circle; whirl around
  3. to twist or coil to twirl one's mustache
  4. ☆ Baseball to pitch

Etymology: prob. < Scand, as in Norw dial. tvirla, to twirl, akin to OE thwirel, stirring rod < IE base *twer-, to whirl, stir up > turbid

noun

  1. a twirling or being twirled
  2. something twirled; specif.,
    1. a twist, coil, etc.
    2. a twisting line; flourish

twirl Related Forms
twirl′er noun
twirl Synonyms

twirl

v.

spin, rotate, twist; see turn 1, whirl.

twirl Usage Examples

Object

  • baton: And twirling batons of all sizes - don't know if there's a special name for the longer ones?
  • round: Just as I looked up at the throne it twirled round.
  • cane: Good action with twirling cane, mouth opens and closes, vibration causes the toy to move around on smooth surfaces.
  • ribbon: Alice in dressed in a green ballet dress with twirling ribbon.
  • mustache: It's not all twirling mustaches and looking mean.
  • wheel: Then the man looks away, and twirls the wheel for his own amusement.

Converse of object

  • do: He ties the ribbons in my hair then asks me to do a twirl.
  • give: She gave an experimental twirl herself, laughing a little as her legs tangled and she almost lost her balance.
  • have: The Daily Mail's travel expert has some useful suggestions Twirl around the world Stuck for holiday ideas?

Adjective modifier

  • quick: After a quick twirl of the weapon to show off, she punched with her left and staked with her right.
  • little: A little pigs tail twirl on the end of the line said it all, at the last minute the knot had slipped.
  • exotic: A taste of exotic Spanish culture twirls into Cambridge with the opportunity to learn this most popular and passionate of dances.
  • Spanish: A taste of exotic Spanish culture twirls into Cambridge with the opportunity to learn this most popular and passionate of dances.

Modifying Another Word

  • about: This river twirls about on a spiral course but is destined for bigger moments as this is the infant River Severn.
  • gently: Her boots dangled from her hand by the laces, twirling gently as she walked.
  • then: Then twirl the whip in a big circle and let the dog chase it.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • around: I'll have to do a google - they're like weighted ribbons on strings that you twirl around.
  • down: It looked really beautiful when the colored paper was falling and twirling down to the floor.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • around: HULA HOOP This famous plaything - a hoop you can twirl around the waist - goes back to ancient Egypt.

Noun used with modifier

  • culture: A taste of exotic Spanish culture twirls into Cambridge with the opportunity to learn this most popular and passionate of dances.