twirl

[ twurl ]

/ twɜrl /

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See synonyms for: twirl / twirled on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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

to twiddle: to twirl my thumbs.

to wind idly, as about something.

verb (used without object)

to rotate rapidly; whirl.

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

noun

an act or instance of twirling; spin; whirl.

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

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of twirl

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

OTHER WORDS FROM twirl

un·twirled, adjectiveun·twirl·ing, adjective

Words nearby twirl

twin-screw, twinset, twin-size, twin town, twin-tub, twirl, twirler, twirp, twist, twist around one's finger, twist drill

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use twirl in a sentence

A protein is made up of a ribbon of amino acids, which folds up into a knot of complex twists and twirls.
AI for protein folding|Will Douglas Heaven|February 23, 2022|MIT Technology Review
A protein is made up of a ribbon of amino acids, which chemical forces fold up into a knot of complex twists and twirls.
This is the reason Demis Hassabis started DeepMind|Will Douglas Heaven|February 23, 2022|MIT Technology Review
Figure skaters whip themselves into fancy twirls on the balance of a blade.
Let’s learn about the science of the Winter Olympics|Maria Temming|February 1, 2022|Science News For Students
A spontaneous twirl, arms outstretched, and two leaps into the air.
Zaila Avant-garde Knows the Troubling History Behind Her Historic Spelling Bee Win|Janell Ross|July 16, 2021|Time

In fact, he and first lady Pat Nixon started the first couples’ tradition of addressing inaugural ball guests and taking a twirl for the cameras.
Not all presidents’ dance skills are created equal|Bonnie Berkowitz, Joanne Lee|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
Abu Hassar began to twirl it between his index finger and thumb.
The Fourth War: My Lunch with a Jihadi|Elliot Ackerman|January 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Listen, it takes a lot of effort to twirl energetically on a mountaintop and make it look good.
‘Sound of Music Live!’ Review: The Hills Are Barely Alive|Kevin Fallon|December 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Always twirl one of those revolving book-cases when you visit a scholar's library.
A Mortal Antipathy|Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
To this Don Roderigo made no answer, and Asneiros, giving a fierce twirl to his moustachios, left the room.
Ponce de Leon|William Pilling
They twirl around on a wire wheel and one of 'em stands up on his hind legs.
Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue Giving a Show|Laura Lee Hope
A feeble ray of winter sunshine crept through the small lattice window and made the dust twirl in a straight shaft of haze.
A German Pompadour|Marie Hay
Yet Mr Anthony never seems to do anything but look through his eyeglass, and twirl his mustachios, and talk.
Out in the Forty-Five|Emily Sarah Holt

British Dictionary definitions for twirl

twirl

/ (twɜːl) /

verb

to move or cause to move around rapidly and repeatedly in a circle

(tr) to twist, wind, or twiddle, often idlyshe twirled her hair around her finger

(intr; often foll by around or about) to turn suddenly to face another wayshe twirled around angrily to face him

noun

an act of rotating or being rotated; whirl or twist

something wound around or twirled; coil

a written flourish or squiggle

Derived forms of twirl

twirler, noun

Word Origin for twirl

C16: perhaps a blend of twist + whirl

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

twirl

Origin of twirl

OTHER WORDS FROM twirl

Words nearby twirl

Words related to twirl

How to use twirl in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for twirl

Derived forms of twirl

Word Origin for twirl