whorl

American  

[hwurl, hwawrl, wurl, wawrl] / ʰwɜrl, ʰwɔrl, wɜrl, wɔrl /

noun

1. a circular arrangement of like parts, as leaves or flowers, around a point on an axis; verticil.

2. one of the turns or volutions of a spiral shell.

3. anything shaped like a coil.

4. one of the central ridges of a fingerprint, forming at least one complete circle.

5. Textiles. a flywheel or pulley, as for a spindle.

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whorl British  

/ wɜːl /

noun

1. botany a radial arrangement of three or more petals, stamens, leaves, etc, around a stem

2. zoology a single turn in a spiral shell

3. one of the basic patterns of the human fingerprint, formed by several complete circular ridges one inside another Compare arch 1 loop 1

4. anything shaped like a coil

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whorl Scientific  

/ hwôrl,wôrl,hwûrl,wûrl /

1. An arrangement of three or more appendages radiating in a circular or spiral arrangement from a point on a plant, as leaves around the node of a stem. The sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels of angiosperms form four separate whorls within a complete flower.

2. A single turn of a spiral shell of a mollusk.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• whorled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of whorl

1425–75; late Middle English whorle, whorvil, wharwyl, Old English hwyrfel, equivalent to hweorfa whorl of a spindle + -el noun suffix

Explanation

Whorl describes something that looks like loops — a strand of curly hair that boings back up when you pull in then let it go, a corkscrew, even the track of a roller coaster that spins you in every direction. Use whorl to describe a thing that swirls or curls — the loops of icing on a birthday cake, the spiral curves of a mountain road, or a lock of curly hair. Whorl is also a good word to describe a flower whose petals form layer after layer of circles. Don't confuse the noun whorl with its homophone whirl, a verb that means "to spin in a circle."

Example Sentences

Even though this extension may be used, all types of whorls are grouped together under the general classification of "Whorl" and are designated by the letter "W".

From The Science of Fingerprints Classification and Uses by Hoover, J. Edgar (John Edgar)

Whorl, hworl, n. a number of leaves in a circle round the stem: a turn in a spiral shell: a volution—e.g. in the ear: the fly of a spindle.—p.adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Whorl: a ring of long hair arranged around a centre, like the spokes around the hub of a wheel.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

Whorl, a single coil in the spire of a gasteropod shell.

From A Guide for the Study of Animals by Lucas, Frederic

Whorl, an arrangement of leaves, flowers, etc., in a circle about the stem, or axis.

From The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits by Parsons, Mary Elizabeth