Word Study
twirl
CIDE DICTIONARY
twirl, v. t. [Cf. AS. a churn staff, a stirrer, flail, , ā, to agitate, twirl, G. zwirlen, quirlen, querlen to twirl, to turn round or about, quirl a twirling stick, OHG. dweran to twirl, stir. Cf. Trowel.].
To move or turn round rapidly; to whirl round; to move and turn rapidly with the fingers. [1913 Webster]
"See ruddy maids,
Some taught with dexterous hand to twirl the wheel." [1913 Webster]
Some taught with dexterous hand to twirl the wheel." [1913 Webster]
"No more beneath soft eve's consenting star
Fandango twirls his jocund castanet." [1913 Webster]
Fandango twirls his jocund castanet." [1913 Webster]
twirl, v. i.
To revolve with velocity; to be whirled round rapidly. [1913 Webster]
twirl, n.
- The act of twirling; a rapid circular motion; a whirl or whirling; quick rotation. [1913 Webster]
- A twist; a convolution. Woodward. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
twirl, v. & n.
--v.tr. & intr. spin or swing or twist quickly and lightly round.
--n.
1 a twirling motion.
2 a form made by twirling, esp. a flourish made with a pen.
--v.tr. & intr. spin or swing or twist quickly and lightly round.
--n.
1 a twirling motion.
2 a form made by twirling, esp. a flourish made with a pen.
Derivative
twirler n. twirly adj.
Etymology
16th c.: prob. alt. (after whirl) of obs. tirl TRILL
THESAURUS
twirl
Charybdis, Maelstrom, back stream, backflow, backwash, backwater, centrifugate, centrifuge, cirrus, coil, contort, convolution, corkscrew, countercurrent, counterflow, counterflux, crinkle, curl, curlicue, dizzy round, eddy, evolute, gulf, gurge, gyrate, gyre, helix, intort, involute, kink, maelstrom, meander, pirouette, purl, rat race, reel, refluence, reflux, regurgitation, revolution, revolve, ringlet, roll, rotate, round, scallop, screw, scroll, serpentine, slink, snake, spin, spinning, spiral, surge, swirl, tendril, turn, turning, twine, twirling, twist, twist and turn, volute, volution, vortex, wheel, whirl, whirligig, whirling, whirlpool, whirlwind, whorl, wind, winding, worm, wringROGET THESAURUS
twirl
Convolution
N convolution, winding, convolution, involution, circumvolution, wave, undulation, tortuosity, anfractuosity, sinuosity, sinuation, meandering, circuit, circumbendibus, twist, twirl, windings and turnings, ambages, torsion, inosculation, reticulation, rivulation, roughness, coil, roll, curl, buckle, spiral, helix, corkscrew, worm, volute, rundle, tendril, scollop, scallop, escalop, kink, ammonite, snakestone, serpent, eel, maze, labyrinth, knot, convoluted, winding, twisted, tortile, tortive, wavy, undated, undulatory, circling, snaky, snake-like, serpentine, serpent, anguill, vermiform, vermicular, mazy, tortuous, sinuous, flexuous, anfractuous, reclivate, rivulose, scolecoid, sigmoid, sigmoidal, spiriferous, spiroid, involved, intricate, complicated, perplexed, labyrinth, labyrinthic, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, peristaltic, daedalian, kinky, knotted, wreathy, frizzly, crepe, buckled, raveled, spiral, coiled, helical, cochleate, cochleous, screw-shaped, turbinated, turbiniform, in and out, round and round, a can of worms, Gordian knot.VB be convoluted, wind, twine, turn and twist, twirl, wave, undulate, meander, inosculate, entwine, intwine, twist, coil, roll, wrinkle, curl, crisp, twill, frizzle, crimp, crape, indent, scollop, scallop, wring, intort, contort, wreathe.
Circuition
VB turn, bend, wheel, go about, put about, heel, go round to the right about, turn round to the right about, turn on one's heel, make a circle, make a complete circle, describe a circle, describe a complete circle, go through 180 degrees, go through 360 degrees, pass through 180 degrees, pass through 360 degrees, circumnavigate, circumambulate, circumvent, put a girdle round about the earth, go the round, make the round of, wind, circulate, meander, whisk, twirl, twist, make a detour.Rotation
VB rotate, roll along, revolve, spin, turn round, circumvolve, circulate, gyre, gyrate, wheel, whirl, pirouette, twirl, trundle, troll, bowl, roll up, furl, wallow, welter, box the compass, spin like a top, spin like a teetotum, spin out.For further exploring for "twirl" in Webster Dictionary Online
