swirl Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the shape of something rotating rapidly
    whirl; vortex; convolution.
  2. verb turn in a twisting or spinning motion
    whirl; twiddle; twirl.
    • The leaves swirled in the autumn wind
  3. verb flow in a circular current, of liquids
    whirl; eddy; whirlpool; purl.

WordNet

Swirl transitive verb & intransitive verb
Etymology
Akin to Norw. svirla to whirl, freq. of sverra to whirl, Dan. svirre, G. schwirren to whiz, to buzz. *177. See Swarm, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Swirled ; present participle & verbal noun Swirling
Definitions
  1. To whirl, or cause to whirl, as in an eddy. "The river swirled along." C. Kingsley.
Swirl noun
Definitions
  1. A whirling motion; an eddy, as of water; a whirl. "The silent swirl of bats." Mrs. Browning.

Webster 1913