whirlwind

whirlwind

whirl·wind / ˈ(h)wərlˌwind/ • n. a column of air moving rapidly around and around in a cylindrical or funnel shape. ∎  used in similes and metaphors to describe a very energetic or tumultuous person or process: a whirlwind of activity | [as adj.] a whirlwind romance. PHRASES: (sow the wind and) reap the whirlwind suffer serious consequences as a result of one's actions.

Show all research tools

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

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"whirlwind." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"whirlwind." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-whirlwind.html

"whirlwind." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-whirlwind.html

Learn more about citation styles

Whirlwind

Whirlwind The first real-time computer, built at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and capable of calculating at high speed. The Whirlwind project had its origins in wartime defense and was officially launched in December 1944. The first version, operational in 1950, used electrostatic storage tubes but a ferrite core store was in use (its first appearance) by 1953. See also Digital Equipment Corporation.

Show all research tools

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

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN DAINTITH. "Whirlwind." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN DAINTITH. "Whirlwind." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-Whirlwind.html

JOHN DAINTITH. "Whirlwind." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-Whirlwind.html

Learn more about citation styles

whirlwind

whirlwind revolving mass of air resulting from local atmospheric instability, such as that caused by intense heating of the ground by the sun on a hot summer day. Examples of whirlwinds are waterspouts , tornadoes , small whirls of dust or leaves, and the sand whirls of the desert, called dust devils or dust whirls.

Show all research tools

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

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"whirlwind." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"whirlwind." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-whirlwin.html

"whirlwind." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-whirlwin.html

Learn more about citation styles

Whirlwind

Whirlwind

something rushing; a confused condition.

Examples: whirlwind of applause, 1837; of tempestuous fire, 1667; of horse, 1840; of passion, 1603; of town pleasure, 1855.

Show all research tools

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

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Whirlwind." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Whirlwind." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301729.html

"Whirlwind." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301729.html

Learn more about citation styles

whirlwind

whirlwind A spiral wind storm around a low-pressure centre. In arid areas dust may be carried upwards several hundred metres.

Show all research tools

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

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

MICHAEL ALLABY. "whirlwind." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "whirlwind." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-whirlwind.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "whirlwind." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-whirlwind.html

Learn more about citation styles

whirlwind

whirlwind A spiral wind storm around a low-pressure centre. In arid areas dust may be carried upward several hundred metres.

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. "whirlwind." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "whirlwind." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-whirlwind.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "whirlwind." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-whirlwind.html

Learn more about citation styles

whirlwind

whirlwind XIV. prob. — ON. hvirfilvindr (see WHIRL, WIND1).

Show all research tools

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

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

T. F. HOAD. "whirlwind." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "whirlwind." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-whirlwind.html

T. F. HOAD. "whirlwind." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-whirlwind.html

Learn more about citation styles

whirlwind

whirlwinddownwind, Lind, prescind, rescind, Sind, upwind, wind •Wedekind • wunderkind • Rosalind •unexamined • undetermined •tamarind • uncurtained • headwind •tradewind • tailwind • crosswind •woodwind • whirlwind •affined, behind, bind, blind, find, grind, hind, humankind, interwind, kind, mankind, mind, nonaligned, resigned, rind, unaligned, unassigned, unconfined, undefined, undersigned, undesigned, unlined, unrefined, unsigned, wynd •spellbind • womankind • snowblind •sunblind • colourblind • purblind •mastermind •abscond, beau monde, beyond, blonde, bond, correspond, demi-monde, despond, fond, frond, Gironde, haut monde, pond, respond, ronde, second, wand •Eurobond • vagabond • millpond •dewpond • Trebizond •unadorned, unmourned, unwarned

Show all research tools

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

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"whirlwind." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"whirlwind." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-whirlwind.html

"whirlwind." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-whirlwind.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Whirlwind poised for growth. (Whirlwind Inc.)(Company Profile)
Magazine article from: Music Trades; 7/1/1996
Beware of whirlwinds.
Newspaper article from: The Birmingham Post (England); 3/17/1998
NEW WHIRLWIND HOSTING SERVICE UNVEILED BY TIE TECHNLOGIES.
Newspaper article from: Online Product News; 9/1/2009

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 whirlwind