whirl

Noun

• the act of rotating rapidly
  • he gave the crank a spin
    
  • it broke off after much twisting
    

• a usually brief attempt
  • he took a crack at it
    
  • I gave it a whirl
    

• the shape of something rotating rapidly

• confused movement
  • he was caught up in a whirl of work
    
  • a commotion of people fought for the exits
    

Verb

• fly around
  • The clothes tumbled in the dryer
    
  • rising smoke whirled in the air
    

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

• flow in a circular current, of liquids

• cause to spin
  • spin a coin
    

• turn in a twisting or spinning motion
  • The leaves swirled in the autumn wind
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  spin , twirl , twist , twisting , crack , fling , go , pass , offer , swirl , vortex , convolution , commotion , tumble , whirl around , spin around , reel , gyrate , eddy , purl , whirlpool , birl , twiddle