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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. |
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Cite this article
"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 |
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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.
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Cite this article
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 |
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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.
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Cite this article
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 |
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Swirl
Swirlobjects 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. |
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"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 |
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swirl
swirl
•birl, 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
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Cite this article
"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 |
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