whir

Or whirr

[hwur, wur]

verb (used without object)

whirred, whirring 

1. to go, fly, revolve, or otherwise move quickly with a humming or buzzing sound.

   An electric fan whirred softly in the corner.

verb (used with object)

whirred, whirring 

1. to move or transport (a thing, person, etc.) with a whirring sound.

   The plane whirred them away into the night.

noun

1. an act or sound of whirring.

   the whir of wings.

whir

/ wɜː /

noun

1. a prolonged soft swish or buzz, as of a motor working or wings flapping

2. a bustle or rush

verb

1. to make or cause to make a whir

Word History and Origins

Origin of whir¹

1350–1400; Middle English quirre ( Scots ) < Scandinavian; compare Danish hvirre, Norwegian kvirra. See whirl

Word History and Origins

Origin of whir¹

C14: probably from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian kvirra, Danish hvirre; see _whirl

Example Sentences

Launched more than 30 years ago, AOL dial-up was known for its chirpy whirring start-up sound, but it has long since been replaced by faster alternatives.

From BBC

Left in the darkened closet, Starr testified she heard the whir of an electric drill as the intruder boarded up the doors with sheets of plywood.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s dramatically different,” Ortíz said, the desert silent except for the crunch of his footsteps in the sand and the whir of a Border Patrol helicopter overhead.

From Los Angeles Times

We could hear the whirring of the propellers before we could see the drone - barely visible as it sliced through the sky.

From BBC

While cash might not be as popular as it once was, the opportunity to fashion the next series of banknotes has got brains whirring and tails wagging.

From BBC