swirl

[ swurl ]

/ swɜrl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR swirl ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to move around or along with a whirling motion; whirl; eddy.

to be dizzy or giddy, as the head.

verb (used with object)

to cause to whirl; twist.

noun

a swirling movement; whirl; eddy.

a twist, as of hair around the head or of trimming on a hat.

any curving, twisting line, shape, or form.

confusion; disorder.

Nearby words

Origin of swirl

1375–1425; late Middle English (north) < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian svirla; cognate with Dutch zwirrelen to whirl, German (dial.) schwirrlen to totter; all < a root *swir- (whence Danish svirre to whirl, German schwirren to whir) + -l- frequentative suffix

SYNONYMS FOR swirl

2. reel, spin.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR swirl ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsswirl·ing·ly, adverbout·swirl, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for swirl

Thousands of people are posting videos on YouTube while they gargle and swirl oil in their mouths.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?|DailyBurn|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That is the context I keep revisiting amidst the condemnations that swirl this week around the Nuge.
The GOP’s Real Ted Nugent Problem|James Poulos|February 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Pour the batter in the pan and swirl so that the batter coats the bottom part of the pan.
Cat Cora’s Valentine’s Day Menu for Single People|Cat Cora|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bassam handed me a large piece, with no attempt to wave away the swirl of winged insects dive-bombing from all directions.
Iraq War 10th Anniversary: The Teamster|John Kael Weston|March 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Once he had the boots on, the man continued along Seventh Avenue and disappeared into the Times Square swirl.
NY Cop’s Act of Kindness Resonates With Thousands|Michael Daly|December 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
A trail of bubbles and a swirl of the surface of the lake marked where she had disappeared.
Dorothy Dale's Great Secret|Margaret Penrose
The swirl of water rose and fell three feet at a time, with enough force to throw the strongest man off his balance.
His Unknown Wife|Louis Tracy
Down they went, but a swirl in the treacherous waves swept the boat two or three fathoms to leeward.
The Lifeboat|R.M. Ballantyne
The next moment there was a swirl of water as a vigorous young trout rose to the surface, and the butterfly disappeared.
Followers of the Trail|Zoe Meyer
He had watched her from the steps until she had reached the end of the Square where the swirl of passing traffic had engulfed her.
The Kingdom Round the Corner|Coningsby Dawson

British Dictionary definitions for swirl

swirl

/ (swɜːl) /

verb

to turn or cause to turn in a twisting spinning fashion

(intr) to be dizzy; swimmy head was swirling

noun

a whirling or spinning motion, esp in water

a whorl; curl

the act of swirling or stirring

dizzy confusion

Derived Formsswirling, adjectiveswirlingly, adverbswirly, adjective

Word Origin for swirl

C15: probably from Dutch zwirrelen; related to Norwegian svirla, German schwirren

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

Word Origin and History for swirl

swirl

early 15c., "whirlpool, eddy," originally Scottish, perhaps related to dialectal Norwegian svirla or Dutch zwirrelen "to whirl." The meaning "whirling movement" is from 1818.

swirl

1510s, with an isolated instance from 14c.; from swirl (n.). Related: Swirled; swirling.

swirl

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of swirl

Examples from the Web for swirl

swirl

verb

noun

Word Origin for swirl

swirl

swirl