whirlwind
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English
Etymology
From Middle English whirlewind, whirlewynde, equivalent to whirl + wind. Compare Middle Dutch wervelwint, Old Norse hvirfilvindr.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈwɜːlwɪnd/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈ(h)wɝlwɪnd/
Audio (US): (file)
Noun
whirlwind (plural whirlwinds)
- A windstorm of limited extent, such as a tornado, dust devil, or waterspout, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air.
- 1668, Franciscus Euistor the Palæopolite [pseudonym; Henry More], “The Fifth Dialogue”, in Divine Dialogues, Containing Sundry Disquisitions & Instructions Concerning the Attributes of God and His Providence in the World. , 2nd edition, London: Joseph Downing , published 1713, →OCLC, paragraph XXXVIII, page 515:
- VVhile in the mean time there iſſued out on the Eaſt-ſide a ſtrong VVind, but pure and refreſhing, vvhich dividing into ſeveral parts that turned round became ſo many innocuous VVhirl-vvinds of ſincere Air, tinctured only vvith a cool refreſhing ſmell, as if it had paſſed over ſome large field of Lilies and Roſes.
- 1818, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “(please specify the page)”, in The Revolt of Islam; , London: or C and J Ollier, ; by B M‘Millan, , →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number):
- And his hoofs ground the rocks to fire and dust, / His strong sides made the torrents rise in spray, / And turbulence, as if a whirlwind’s gust / Surrounded us; […]
- (figuratively) A person or body of objects or events sweeping violently onward.
- Once he got that new scooter he turned into a whirlwind and damaged all the flowers.
- The weeks leading up to the convention were a whirlwind of preparation and hurried activity.
Hyponyms
Derived terms
Translations
violent windstorm of limited extent characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air
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body of objects or events sweeping violently onward
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Adjective
whirlwind (not comparable)
- Rapid and minimal.
- a whirlwind tour, a whirlwind romance
- 2016, Nina Milne, Rafael's Contract Bride, page 60:
- So you aren't deserting the Caversham ship. They'll understand. After all, their courtship was pretty whirlwind itself.