twirl

[ twurl ]

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to rotate rapidly; spin; revolve; whirl.
2. to twiddle:

   to twirl my thumbs.

3. to wind idly, as about something.

verb (used without object)

1. to rotate rapidly; whirl.
2. to turn quickly so as to face or point in another direction.

noun

1. an act or instance of twirling; spin; whirl.
2. something convoluted or having a spiral shape; coil; curl; convolution.

twirl

/ twɜːl /

verb

1. to move or cause to move around rapidly and repeatedly in a circle
2. tr to twist, wind, or twiddle, often idly

   she twirled her hair around her finger

3. intr; often foll by around or about to turn suddenly to face another way

   she twirled around angrily to face him

noun

1. an act of rotating or being rotated; whirl or twist
2. something wound around or twirled; coil
3. a written flourish or squiggle

Derived Forms

• ˈtwirler, noun

Other Words From

• un·twirled adjective
• un·twirling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of twirl¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; tw(ist) + (wh)irl

Word History and Origins

Origin of twirl¹

C16: perhaps a blend of twist + whirl

Example Sentences

Marcel makes her directorial debut with “The Last Dance,” which announces itself with that title as Venom’s potential last twirl on the floor.

From Los Angeles Times

She can cut grass with a simple twirl of her cape and, if she must, she can whip out a sword for a timely strike.

From Los Angeles Times

The bats hanging from the ceiling began to whirl and twirl.

From Literature

In one moment, the choreographer Annie-B Parson has them twirl around holding pillows while a character considers killing herself in a hotel room.

From New York Times

After a series of failures, he finally found the right kind of stick to twirl in the right piece of dry wood, and the right kind of tinder to flare with the first flame.

From Literature

Related Words

• gyrate
• pivot
• rotate
• spin
• whirl