twirl

American  

[twurl] / twɜrl /

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to rotate rapidly; spin; revolve; whirl.

2. to twiddle.

   to twirl my thumbs.

3. to wind idly, as about something.

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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.

twirl British  

/ 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

3. (intr; often foll by around or about) to turn suddenly to face another way

   she twirled around angrily to face him

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noun

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

2. something wound around or twirled; coil

3. a written flourish or squiggle

Other Word Forms

• twirler noun
• untwirled adjective
• untwirling adjective

Etymology

Origin of twirl

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

Example Sentences

Awesiinh picks up his drumsticks, twirls one in his hand, then taps my shoulder with it.

From Literature

Bounce with your hands in front of you as if you’re driving a car down a rocky street, or put your hand above your head and try for an elegant, ballerina-inspired twirl.

From Los Angeles Times

On the second twirl, I caught sight of the cocky, toothy smile of Douglas Fairbanks on the cover of Photoplay.I plucked the magazine from the stand.

From Literature

She raises her eyebrows and pretends to twirl a moustache.

From Literature

I am Maeve, I thought, remembering the day I had twirled over the rocks singing, with nothing to worry about, with Maggie still home and the potatoes growing green in the field.

From Literature

Related Words

• gyrate
• pivot
• rotate
• spin
• whirl