twirl

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to turn or spin quickly and lightly around a central point

   The dancer twirled across the stage and stopped beside the curtain.

2. 2
   verb

   to twist, wind, or rotate something with the fingers

   He twirled the pencil while considering the question.

3. 3
   noun

   a quick spinning movement, decorative curl, or flourish

   She finished the routine with a rapid twirl.

Probably an alteration of earlier tirl, 'to turn or twist,' influenced by whirl, and related to Scandinavian and Germanic words for stirring or rotating. The noun developed from the verb for either a spinning movement or a curled decorative shape.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images