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View synonyms for twirl

twirl

[twurl]

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.



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

/ 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

“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

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

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • untwirled adjective
  • untwirling adjective
  • twirler noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of twirl1

First recorded in 1590–1600; tw(ist) + (wh)irl
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Word History and Origins

Origin of twirl1

C16: perhaps a blend of twist + whirl
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They spin, fly and twirl as they get closer and closer to each other and eventually merge and grow into one big, mixed-up galaxy in a process known as a ‘galactic merger’.

Read more on Space Scoop

There’s a wide-angle shot of a nightclub where Condon gives her and a dozen background performers a full, uncut minute to twirl.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“They are twirling a baton saying, ‘Look at me.

They come out twice, for Viva La Vida and feelslikeimfallinginlove, twirling their cellos and jumping up and down as they provide the stirring string accompaniment.

Read more on BBC

Beloved by Disney, who snapped up a similar historic wooden ride to serve as the King Arthur Carrousel at his Anaheim theme park, the Griffith Park merry-go-round took its last twirl in 2022.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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