whirlwind

American  

[hwurl-wind, wurl-] / ˈʰwɜrlˌwɪnd, ˈwɜrl- /

noun

1. Meteorology. a relatively small mass of air rotating rapidly around a more or less vertical axis and simultaneously advancing over land or sea: specific categories of whirlwind include dust devil, dust whirl, tornado, and waterspout.

   The sails were carried up to the mastheads by the force of the whirlwind.

2. anything resembling a whirlwind, as in violent action or destructive force.

   a fiery whirlwind of shrapnel.

3. someone or something characterized by great energy or swiftness, often with an atmosphere of chaos.

   a staff of three do-nothings and one whirlwind; a whirlwind of activity at the stock exchange.

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adjective

1. like a whirlwind, as in speed or force.

   a whirlwind visit to New York.

   Synonyms:

   impulsive, hasty, breakneck, headlong

verb (used without object)

1. to move or travel quickly.

   You can't just whirlwind in and out of their lives and expect them to be OK with that.

idioms

1. (sow the wind and) reap the whirlwind, to suffer the penalties for one's misdeeds. Hosea 8:7.

whirlwind British  

/ ˈwɜːlˌwɪnd /

noun

1. a column of air whirling around and towards a more or less vertical axis of low pressure, which moves along the land or ocean surface

2. 1. a motion or course resembling this, esp in rapidity

   2. ( as modifier )

      a whirlwind romance

3. an impetuously active person

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Etymology

Origin of whirlwind

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse hvirfilvindr; cognate with German Wirbelwind

Example Sentences

“He who sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

One Friday night last year, Akylah Cox and her boyfriend took a red-eye flight from Pennsylvania to Dublin for a whirlwind adventure.

From Los Angeles Times

The Ukrainian leader has been on a whirlwind tour of the Gulf in recent days -- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar -- touting what he calls Kyiv's world-leading air defences.

From Barron's

After a whirlwind three months, Sullivan filed paperwork in January to run for spots on the Democratic Party’s executive committees in West Virginia and in Harrison County, where she lives.

From Salon

He may be spending this week hobnobbing with label executives and artists during a whirlwind of pre-Grammys parties, but behind the scenes the mood is tense.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• dust devil
• tornado
• waterspout