swirl B2 Topic:Describing Qualities US /swɜːrl/ UK /swɜːl/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to move in a twisting or spiraling pattern The smoke began to swirl around the room. 2 noun a twisting or spiraling shape or pattern The cake was decorated with chocolate swirls. 3 noun a state of confusion or disorder Her mind was in a swirl of emotions. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to move in a twisting or... twirlspiraltwistwhirlspin 2 noun · a twisting or spiraling... spiralvortexeddyhelixcoil 3 noun · a state of confusion or... confusionturmoilwhirlcommotion ↔ Opposites stillnesscalm Etymology AI details From Middle English swirlen ('to whirl, swirl'), recorded from the 14th century; into Early Modern English swirl and Modern English swirl ('to move in a twisting pattern'). Topics Describing Qualities External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # swirl **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** verb, noun **IPA (US):** /swɜːrl/ **IPA (UK):** /swɜːl/ ## Meanings 1. to move in a twisting or spiraling pattern 2. a twisting or spiraling shape or pattern 3. a state of confusion or disorder ## Examples - The smoke began to swirl around the room. - The cake was decorated with chocolate swirls. - Her mind was in a swirl of emotions. ## Synonyms - twirl - spiral - twist - whirl - spin - vortex - eddy - helix - coil - confusion - turmoil - commotion ## Antonyms - stillness - calm ## Etymology From Middle English swirlen ('to whirl, swirl'), recorded from the 14th century; into Early Modern English swirl and Modern English swirl ('to move in a twisting pattern'). ## AI Etymology Swirl comes from Middle English swirlen ('to whirl, swirl'), recorded from the 14th century; into Early Modern English swirl and Modern English swirl ('to move in a twisting pattern'). In current use it is a verb and noun meaning "to move in a twisting or spiraling pattern". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the older form, the route into English, and the present lexical sense. ## Topics - Describing Qualities markdown