whirlwind

[hwurl-wind, wurl-]

noun

1. Meteorology.,  a relatively small mass of air rotating rapidly around a more or less vertical axis and simultaneously advancing over land or sea: specific categories of whirlwind include dust devil, dust whirl, tornado, and waterspout.

   The sails were carried up to the mastheads by the force of the whirlwind.

2. anything resembling a whirlwind, as in violent action or destructive force.

   a fiery whirlwind of shrapnel.

3. someone or something characterized by great energy or swiftness, often with an atmosphere of chaos.

   a staff of three do-nothings and one whirlwind; a whirlwind of activity at the stock exchange.

adjective

1. like a whirlwind, as in speed or force.

   a whirlwind visit to New York.

   Synonyms: impulsive, hasty, breakneck, headlong

verb (used without object)

1. to move or travel quickly.

   You can't just whirlwind in and out of their lives and expect them to be OK with that.

whirlwind

/ ˈwɜːlˌwɪnd /

noun

1. a column of air whirling around and towards a more or less vertical axis of low pressure, which moves along the land or ocean surface

2. 1. a motion or course resembling this, esp in rapidity

   2. ( as modifier )

      a whirlwind romance

3. an impetuously active person

Word History and Origins

Origin of whirlwind¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse hvirfilvindr; cognate with German Wirbelwind

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. (sow the wind and) reap the whirlwind, to suffer the penalties for one's misdeeds. Hosea 8:7.

Example Sentences

Dust devils are small whirlwinds that form from hot air rising from the ground, and their internal movements can give rise to electrical discharges.

Read more on BBC

She’s just returned from a whirlwind tour — Antwerp, New York, Oslo, Madrid — with Tokyo next month.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After a whirlwind first couple of years on the tour, the last thing for Littler to accomplish was the world-number-one ranking.

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At the end of a whirlwind 72 hours, the striker's raw emotion was understandable.

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For Zuri Crawford, the last several weeks have been an emotional whirlwind — swinging from fears to frustration to now partial relief.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dust devil 
• tornado 
• waterspout