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whirl (wûrl, hwûrl)
Share:
v. whirled, whirl·ing, whirls
v.intr.
1. To rotate rapidly about a center or an axis; spin.
2. To move while rotating or turning about: The dancer whirled across the stage. See Synonyms at turn.
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.
v.tr.
1. To cause to rotate or turn rapidly: whirl a baton.
2. To cause to move with a spinning motion: whirled the ball up into the air.
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; a tumult: The press room was in a whirl.
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.]
whirler n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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