whirl

whirl¹ [wə:l US wə:rl] v

[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language]

1.) [I and T]

to turn or spin around very quickly, or to make someone or something do this

▪ We watched the seagulls whirling and shrieking over the harbour.

whirl about/around/toward etc

▪ She whirled around and her look shook him.

whirl sb/sth about/around/away etc

▪ He whirled her round in his arms.

2.)

if your head is whirling, or if thoughts are whirling in your head, your mind is full of thoughts and ideas, and you feel very confused or excited

▪ His head was whirling with excitement.

▪ The implications began to whirl around her head.

whirl ²

whirl² [i]n

1.) give sth a whirl informal

to try something that you are not sure you are going to like or be able to do

▪ Why don't you give golf a whirl?

2.) [singular]

a lot of activity of a particular kind

▪ the social whirl of New York publishing

whirl of

▪ The next two days passed in a whirl of activity .

3.) be in a whirl

to feel very excited or confused about something

▪ His mind was in a whirl and he was worried.

4.) [C usually singular]

a spinning movement or the shape of something that is spinning

whirl of

▪ A car rumbled over the bumpy dirt road, leaving behind a whirl of white dust.