swirl

verb
UK: /swɜːl/
US: /swɝːl/

  1. To move quickly in a twisting or rotating motion.

    1. The water began to swirl down the drain quickly.
    2. As the wind picked up, leaves started to swirl around the yard.

  2. To cause something to move in a twisting or rotating motion.

    1. She liked to swirl the ice in her glass.
    2. The bartender skillfully swirled the cocktail ingredients together before serving.

Synonyms

whirl twist rotate spiral eddy vortex
swirl noun

  1. A twisting or rotating movement.

    1. The ice cream had a chocolate swirl.
    2. The dancer did a swirl across the stage during her performance.

  2. A pattern or shape made by something that is swirling.

    1. The artist created a swirl of colors on the canvas.
    2. There was a swirl of dust devils dancing in the distance of the desert.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "swirl" in English means: To move quickly in a twisting or rotating motion., To cause something to move in a twisting or rotating motion..

The phonetic transcription of "swirl" is /swɜːl/ in British English and /swɝːl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "swirl": whirl, twist, rotate, spiral, eddy, vortex.

Example usage of "swirl": "The water began to swirl down the drain quickly.". More examples on the page.