whirl

/wərl/

/hwərl/

/wəl/

Other forms: whirled; whirls

A whirl is a quick spin, and when something whirls, it rotates fast. You can also use it to mean "a try." Hang-gliding? Snake-charming? "Sure," you say. "I'll give it a whirl."

Both whirl and spin are words that mean "turn in circles" but that have also come to mean trying something briefly––you might take a car for a spin or take a turn hiking in the Himalayas. All imply an attitude so free-wheeling, so easy, so devil-may-care that it might make your head spin. Or whirl.

Definitions of whirl

1. noun

   the shape of something rotating rapidly
   synonyms: convolution, swirl, vortex

   type of:

   round shape

   a shape that is curved and without sharp angles
2. noun

   the act of rotating rapidly
   synonyms: spin, twirl, twist, twisting

   types:

   pirouette

   (ballet) a rapid spin of the body (especially on the toes as in ballet)

   birling, logrolling

   rotating a log rapidly in the water (as a competitive sport)

   type of:

   rotary motion, rotation

   the act of rotating as if on an axis
3. noun

   confused movement
   “he was caught up in a whirl of work”

   synonyms: commotion, whirlwind

   type of:

   motion, movement

   a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something
4. noun

   a usually brief attempt
   “I gave it a whirl”

   synonyms: crack, fling, go, offer, pass

   type of:

   attempt, effort, endeavor, endeavour, try

   earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
5. verb

   turn in a twisting or spinning motion
   synonyms: swirl, twiddle, twirl

   type of:

   go around, revolve, rotate

   turn on or around an axis or a center
6. verb

   revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis
   “The dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy”

   synonyms: gyrate, reel, spin, spin around

   types:

   whirligig

   whirl or spin like a whirligig

   type of:

   go around, revolve, rotate

   turn on or around an axis or a center
7. verb

   flow in a circular current, of liquids
   synonyms: eddy, purl, swirl, whirlpool

   type of:

   course, feed, flow, run

   move along, of liquids
8. verb

   fly around
   “rising smoke whirled in the air”

   synonyms: tumble, whirl around

   type of:

   move

   move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion
9. verb

   cause to spin
   synonyms: birl, spin, twirl

   type of:

   circumvolve, rotate

   cause to turn on an axis or center