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definitions

twirl

[ twurl ]
/ twɜrl /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR twirl ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

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.

RELATED WORDS

whirl, rotate, spin, gyrate, pivot, wheel, gyre, twist, turn, revolve, wind, pirouette, whirligig, purl

Nearby words

  1. twinleaf,
  2. twinned,
  3. twinning,
  4. twins,
  5. twinset,
  6. twirler,
  7. twirp,
  8. twist,
  9. twist around one's finger,
  10. twist drill

Origin of twirl

First recorded in 1590–1600; tw(ist) + (wh)irl
Related formsun·twirled, adjectiveun·twirl·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for twirl

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 Formstwirler, 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
Word Origin and History for twirl

twirl

1590s (n. and v.), of uncertain origin, possibly connected with Old English þwirl "a stirrer." Or else a blend of twist and whirl. Related: Twirled; twirling.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper