whirl
intransitive verb
- to move rapidly in a circular manner or as in an orbit; circle swiftly: couples whirling round the dance floor
- to rotate or spin fast; gyrate
- to move, go, drive, etc. swiftly
- to seem to spin; reel: my head is whirling
transitive verb
- to cause to rotate, revolve, or spin rapidly
- to move, carry, drive, etc. with a rotating motion: the wind whirled the leaves
- Obsolete to hurl or throw
noun
- the act of whirling
- a whirling motion
- something whirling or being whirled: a whirl of dust
- a round of parties, etc., one after another
- a tumult; uproar; stir
- a confused or giddy condition: his head in a whirl
See whirl in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(hwûrl, wûrl)
verb whirled,
whirl·ing,
whirls verb, intransitive- To revolve rapidly about a center or an axis. See Synonyms at turn.
- To rotate or spin rapidly: The dancer whirled across the stage.
- To turn rapidly, changing direction; wheel: She whirled around to face him.
- To have the sensation of spinning; reel: My head is whirling with data.
- To move circularly and rapidly in varied, random directions: The wind whirled across the steppes.
verb, transitive- To cause to rotate or turn rapidly: whirl a baton.
- To move or drive in a circular or curving course.
- To drive at high speed: whirled the motorcycle around the corner.
- Obsolete To hurl.
noun- The act of rotating or revolving rapidly.
- Something, such as a cloud of dust, that whirls or is whirled.
- A state of confusion; tumult.
- A swift succession or round of events: the social whirl.
- A state of mental confusion or giddiness; dizziness: My head is in a whirl.
- Informal A short trip or ride.
- Informal A brief or experimental try: Let's give the plan a whirl.
Related Forms:
Learn more about whirl
