swirl

swirl

swirl / swərl/ • v. [intr.] move in a twisting or spiraling pattern: the smoke was swirling around him | [as adj.] (swirling) fig. a flood of swirling emotions. ∎  [tr.] cause to move in such a pattern: swirl a little cream into the soup. • n. a quantity of something moving in such a pattern: swirls of dust swept across the floor. ∎  a twisting or spiraling movement or pattern: she emerged with a swirl of skirts swirls of color. DERIVATIVES: swirl·y adj.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"swirl." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"swirl." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-swirl.html

"swirl." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-swirl.html

Learn more about citation styles

swirl

swirl An enigmatic, light-coloured marking on a satellite or planetary surface. Swirls have no topographic relief. Examples are known from Mercury and the Moon (Reiner Gamma). They appear to be antipodal to major impact structures. The Reiner Gamma swirl is associated with strong surface magnetization. It has been suggested that some may be cometary impact sites.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "swirl." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "swirl." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-swirl.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "swirl." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-swirl.html

Learn more about citation styles

swirl

swirl whirlpool XV; twist, whirling motion XVIII. orig. Sc., perh. of LG. or Du. orig. (cf. Du. zwirrelen whirl) and frequent. formation (cf. -LE3) on the imit. base seen in MLG. swirren, G. schwirren, Da. svirre whirl.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

T. F. HOAD. "swirl." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "swirl." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-swirl.html

T. F. HOAD. "swirl." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-swirl.html

Learn more about citation styles

Swirl

Swirl

objects that move rapidly in a circle or in a whirling motion, 1858.

Examples : swirl of rain clouds, 1853; of flame, 1861; of sea, 1871; of wood smoke, 1894.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Swirl." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Swirl." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301527.html

"Swirl." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301527.html

Learn more about citation styles

swirl

swirlbirl, burl, churl, curl, earl, Erle, furl, girl, herl, hurl, knurl, merle, pas seul, pearl, purl, Searle, skirl, squirl, swirl, twirl, whirl, whorl •salesgirl •ballgirl, call girl •cowgirl • showgirl • schoolgirl •choirgirl • weathergirl • Husserl

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"swirl." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"swirl." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-swirl.html

"swirl." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-swirl.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

U-Swirl continues regional expansion.
Newspaper article from: Ice Cream Reporter; 6/20/2011
U-Swirl expanding coast-to-coast.
Newspaper article from: Ice Cream Reporter; 3/20/2011
Heat transfer over rotor surface in a pre-swirl rotating-disc...
Magazine article from: International Journal of Dynamics of Fluids; 6/1/2007

Facts and information from other sites

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of swirl