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whirling

 - 2 dictionary results

whirl

  [hwurl, wurl]
Use whirling in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to turn around, spin, or rotate rapidly: The merry-go-round whirled noisily.
2. to turn about or aside quickly: He whirled and faced his pursuers.
3. to move, travel, or be carried rapidly along: She whirled along the freeway in her new car.
4. to feel as though spinning rapidly; reel as from dizziness: My head began to whirl.
–verb (used with object)
5. to cause to turn around, spin, or rotate rapidly.
6. to send, drive, or carry in a circular or curving course.
7. to drive, send, or carry along with great or dizzying rapidity.
8. Obsolete. to hurl.
–noun
9. the act of whirling; rapid rotation or gyration.
10. a whirling movement; quick turn or swing.
11. a short drive, run, walk, or the like; spin.
12. something that whirls; a whirling current or mass.
13. a rapid round of events, affairs, etc.: a whirl of meetings, conferences, and business lunches.
14. a state marked by dizziness or a dizzying succession of feelings, thoughts, etc.
15. an attempt or trial, esp. one undertaken tentatively or experimentally: Even if you don't agree with my plan, won't you give it a whirl?
16. Machinery. whip (def. 26).
Origin:
1250–1300; ME whirlen < ON hvirfla to whirl, akin to OE hwyrflung turning, revolving, hwyrfel circuit; see whorl

Related forms:
whirler, noun
whirl⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. gyrate, pirouette. 1, 5. revolve, twirl, wheel. 9. spin, revolution. 15. try, go, fling, whack.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To whirling
whirl   (hwûrl, wûrl)   
v.   whirled, whirl·ing, whirls

v.   intr.

  1. To revolve rapidly about a center or an axis. See Synonyms at turn.

  2. To rotate or spin rapidly: The dancer whirled across the stage.

  3. To turn rapidly, changing direction; wheel: She whirled around to face him.

  4. To have the sensation of spinning; reel: My head is whirling with data.

  5. To move circularly and rapidly in varied, random directions: The wind whirled across the steppes.

v.   tr.

  1. To cause to rotate or turn rapidly: whirl a baton.

  2. To move or drive in a circular or curving course.

  3. To drive at high speed: whirled the motorcycle around the corner.

  4. Obsolete To hurl.

n.  

  1. The act of rotating or revolving rapidly.

  2. Something, such as a cloud of dust, that whirls or is whirled.

  3. A state of confusion; tumult.

  4. A swift succession or round of events: the social whirl.

  5. A state of mental confusion or giddiness; dizziness: My head is in a whirl.

  6. Informal A short trip or ride.

  7. Informal A brief or experimental try: Let's give the plan a whirl.


[Middle English whirlen, probably from Old Norse hvirfla.]
whirl'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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