whirlwind

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A column of air spinning rapidly as it moves across the ground.

   A sudden whirlwind scattered the dry leaves across the yard.

2. 2
   noun

   A rush of intense, fast-moving events or activity.

   The weeks before the wedding passed in a whirlwind of preparation.

3. 3
   adj

   Happening very quickly and intensely.

   They had a whirlwind romance and married within a month.

From Middle English whirlewind, whirlewynde, equivalent to whirl + wind. Compare Middle Dutch wervelwint, Old Norse hvirfilvindr.

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