WHIRL • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Whirl

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/wərl/ /hwərl/ Listen

noun

Whirl n.

A turning with rapidity or velocity; rapid rotation or circumvolution; quick gyration; rapid or confusing motion; as, the whirl of a top; the whirl of a wheel. "In no breathless whirl." "The rapid... whirl of things here below interrupt not the inviolable rest and calmness of the noble beings above."

Anything that moves with a whirling motion. "He saw Falmouth under gray, iron skies, and whirls of March dust."

A revolving hook used in twisting, as the hooked spindle of a rope machine, to which the threads to be twisted are attached.

(Bot. & Zool.) A whorl. See Whorl.

verb

Whirl v. t. (past & past part. whirled; pres. part. whirling)

To turn round rapidly; to cause to rotate with velocity; to make to revolve. "He whirls his sword around without delay."

To remove or carry quickly with, or as with, a revolving motion; to snatch; to harry. "See, see the chariot, and those rushing wheels, That whirled the prophet up at Chebar flood." "The passionate heart of the poet is whirl'd into folly."

Whirl v. i.

To be turned round rapidly; to move round with velocity; to revolve or rotate with great speed; to gyrate. "The whirling year vainly my dizzy eyes pursue." "The wooden engine flies and whirls about."

To move hastily or swiftly. "But whirled away to shun his hateful sight."

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Etymology of 'Whirl'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Whirl" Quotes from Famous Books

... battle, and learning where they were going, insisted on their taking her carriage. She will have no refusal: and now John the footman, inwardly groaning, assists the lame man to enter, then the other one takes a seat... Off they whirl to their hospital-home, with a blessing upon the fair lady who dared follow the teachings of ONE whom that morning she worshiped with words ...

— The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2, No. 2, August, 1862 - Devoted to Literature and National Policy • Various

... She scanned him for a moment, full of a pity which belittled him somewhat, though all the while she loved him the more with an affection into which entered some vague idea of watching over him. Her feelings, still in a whirl of confusion, inspired her with the thought that she ought to bring him back the happiness ...

— A Love Episode • Emile Zola

... no further struggle between them. A week later she went away. As he told her, "the house was there"—and to that she went until she should go to find some whirl of life that would make her deaf to voices of ...

— The Way to Peace • Margaret Deland

... overtake events? On Wednesday, as soon as my mail was finished, I had a wild whirl to look forward to. Immediately after dinner, Belle, Lloyd and I, set out on horseback, they to the club, I to Haggard's, thence to the hotel where I had supper ready for them. All next day we hung round Apia with our whole house-crowd in Sunday array, hoping for the mail steamer with a menagerie ...

— Vailima Letters • Robert Louis Stevenson

... To most young people Love comes after a great deal of waltzing. But this pair brought the awakened tenderness and trembling sensibilities of two burning hearts to this their first intoxicating whirl. To them, therefore, everything was an event, everything was a thrill—the first meeting and timid pressure of their hands, the first delicate enfolding of her supple waist by his strong arm but trembling hand, the delightful unison of their unerring feet, the movement, the music, the soft delicious ...

— Hard Cash • Charles Reade

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