Meanings
-
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
verb
to twist, wind, or rotate something with the fingers
He twirled the pencil while considering the question.
-
3
noun
a quick spinning movement, decorative curl, or flourish
She finished the routine with a rapid twirl.
Thesaurus
Etymology
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.