whirlwind

whirl·wind

Use whirlwind in a sentence

adjective

The definition of a whirlwind is something that is done very quickly and without a lot of thought.
An example of a whirlwind is a whirlwind courtship, an engagement and marriage that happens within two weeks of the bride and groom meeting.

noun

A whirlwind is defined as an almost-vertical column of wind that moves rapidly around in a funnel shape, or someone or something that has a ton of energy or a lot going on.
1. A dust devil when wind twirls around and around in a funnel shape is an example of a whirlwind.
2. When you have an extremely busy trip and are active every minute, this is an example of being on a whirlwind.

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"whirlwind." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 July 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/whirlwind>.

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whirlwind. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/whirlwind

whirlwind

a current of air whirling violently upward in a spiral motion around a more or less vertical axis that has a forward motion
anything resembling a whirlwind, as in violent or destructive force

Origin of whirlwind

Middle English whirlwynd, probably based on Old Norse hvirfilvindr

impetuous and speedy: a whirlwind courtship

whirlwind Idioms

sow the wind and reap the whirlwind

to engage in, and suffer the consequences of, evil or folly: Hos. 8:7

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"whirlwind." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 July 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/whirlwind>.

APA Style

whirlwind. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/whirlwind

whirlwind

noun

A rapidly rotating, generally vertical column of air, such as a tornado, dust devil, or waterspout.
a. A tumultuous, confused rush.
b. A destructive force or thing.

adjective

Tumultuous or rapid: a whirlwind political campaign.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"whirlwind." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 July 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/whirlwind>.

APA Style

whirlwind. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/whirlwind

Noun

(plural whirlwinds)

A violent windstorm of limited extent, as the tornado, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air. It usually has a rapid progressive motion.
(figuratively) A person or body of objects or events sweeping violently onward.
The weeks leading up to the convention were a whirlwind of preparation and hurried activity.
Once he got that new scooter he turned into a whirlwind and damaged all the flowers.

Adjective

(not comparable)

Rapid and minimal: a whirlwind tour, a whirlwind guide.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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MLA Style

"whirlwind." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 July 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/whirlwind>.

APA Style

whirlwind. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/whirlwind

whirlwind - Computer Definition

The first electronic digital computer used in a real-time application and the first to use magnetic core memory. The Whirlwind was originally intended to be a general-purpose aircraft simulator for the U.S. Navy, but evolved into a general-purpose computer that became the prototype for the SAGE air defense system (see SAGE). Developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, construction began in 1947. It became operational in the early 1950s. Its first memory used electrostatic storage tubes that proved unreliable, and in 1953, magnetic core memory was added, dramatically improving performance and reliability. The Whirlwind used 2K words of core memory and magnetic drum and tape for storage. The machine was continually enhanced, eventually using 12,000 vacuum tubes and 20,000 diodes and occupying two floors of an MIT campus building. Whirlwind's circuit design, core memory and use of CRTs contributed greatly in the making of future computers. Project members later worked on IBM's 700 series. One in particular, Kenneth Olsen, founded Digital Equipment Corporation.

Whirlwind I

In the early 1950s, the Whirlwind was the prototype computer for the U.S. air defense system. It was also the first to use core memory. (Image courtesy of The MITRE Corporation Archives.)

Kenneth H. Olsen

Olsen worked on the Whirlwind and later pioneered the minicomputer industry with his PDP computer series. He founded and ran Digital Equipment Corporation for 35 years until his retirement in 1992. (Image courtesy of Digital Equipment Corporation.)

Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. © 1981-2017 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.