twirl

[ twurl ]
See synonyms for: twirltwirled on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to cause to rotate rapidly; spin; revolve; whirl.

  2. to twiddle: to twirl my thumbs.

  1. to wind idly, as about something.

verb (used without object)
  1. to rotate rapidly; whirl.

  2. to turn quickly so as to face or point in another direction.

noun
  1. an act or instance of twirling; spin; whirl.

  2. something convoluted or having a spiral shape; coil; curl; convolution.

Origin of twirl

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; tw(ist) + (wh)irl

Other words from twirl

  • un·twirled, adjective
  • un·twirl·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use twirl in a sentence

  • "I did n't fly off the handle," said the screw, twirling huskily at the end of the screw-shaft.

  • He turned his cool regard upon Chief Inspector Kerry, twirling the cord of his monocle about one finger.

    Dope | Sax Rohmer
  • She stared absently at the silk tassel, twirling it about her white fingers more and more rapidly.

    Dope | Sax Rohmer
  • Thomas Carr was twirling his wine-glass gently round on the white cloth, neither speaking nor looking.

    Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry Wood
  • Hilda stabbed a great crisp fallen teak leaf with her parasol, and spent the grimness of this in twirling it.

    Hilda | Sarah Jeanette Duncan

British Dictionary definitions for twirl

twirl

/ (twɜːl) /


verb
  1. to move or cause to move around rapidly and repeatedly in a circle

  2. (tr) to twist, wind, or twiddle, often idly: she twirled her hair around her finger

  1. (intr; often foll by around or about) to turn suddenly to face another way: she twirled around angrily to face him

noun
  1. an act of rotating or being rotated; whirl or twist

  2. something wound around or twirled; coil

  1. a written flourish or squiggle

Origin of twirl

1
C16: perhaps a blend of twist + whirl

Derived forms of twirl

  • twirler, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012