TWIRL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does twirl mean? 

• TWIRL (noun)
  The noun TWIRL has 2 senses:

1. a sharp bend in a line produced when a line having a loop is pulled tight

2. the act of rotating rapidly

  Familiarity information: TWIRL used as a noun is rare.

• TWIRL (verb)
  The verb TWIRL has 2 senses:

1. turn in a twisting or spinning motion

2. cause to spin

  Familiarity information: TWIRL used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TWIRL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A sharp bend in a line produced when a line having a loop is pulled tight

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Synonyms:

kink; twirl; twist

Hypernyms ("twirl" is a kind of...):

bend; crease; crimp; flexure; fold; plication (an angular or rounded shape made by folding)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of rotating rapidly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

spin; twirl; twist; twisting; whirl

Context example:

it broke off after much twisting

Hypernyms ("twirl" is a kind of...):

rotary motion; rotation (the act of rotating as if on an axis)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "twirl"):

pirouette ((ballet) a rapid spin of the body (especially on the toes as in ballet))

birling; logrolling (rotating a log rapidly in the water (as a competitive sport))

Derivation:

twirl (cause to spin)

twirl (turn in a twisting or spinning motion)

• TWIRL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they twirl    ... he / she / it twirls   
Past simple: twirled   
Past participle: twirled   
-ing form: twirling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Turn in a twisting or spinning motion

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

swirl; twiddle; twirl; whirl

Context example:

The leaves swirled in the autumn wind

Hypernyms (to "twirl" is one way to...):

go around; revolve; rotate (turn on or around an axis or a center)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

The wooden sticks twirl

Derivation:

twirl (the act of rotating rapidly)

twirler ((baseball) the person who does the pitching)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to spin

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

birl; spin; twirl; whirl

Context example:

spin a coin

Hypernyms (to "twirl" is one way to...):

circumvolve; rotate (cause to turn on an axis or center)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The girls twirl the wooden sticks

Derivation:

twirl (the act of rotating rapidly)

twirler (someone who twirls a baton)

 Context examples 

Take them how you would, at long butts or short, hoyles, rounds, or rovers, better bowmen never twirled a shaft over their thumb-nails.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The needle may be twirled, moved up and down at different speeds and depths, heated, or charged with a low electric current.

(Needling, NCI Dictionary)

The needle may be twirled, moved up and down at different speeds and depths, heated, or charged with a small electric current until the de qi sensation occurs.

(De qi sensation, NCI Dictionary)

But Amy whispered, with full eyes, as she twirled the faded stool, "Not tonight, dear. I can't show off tonight."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

But these celestial dancers are all twirling at different speeds.

(Kepler Watches Stellar Dancers in the Pleiades Cluster, NASA)

Well I remember his thin, upright figure and the way in which he jauntily twirled his little cane; for cold and hunger could not cast him down, though we knew that he had his share of both.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Here come two hundred as tight lads as ever twirled a shaft over their thumbnails.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Jo had not told him why he was wanted, fearing he wouldn't come, but he knew the minute he saw Mrs. March's face, and stood twirling his hat with a guilty air which convicted him at once.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He pushed on the quicker, twirling his staff merrily, and looking out at every turn of the path for some sign of the old Saxon residence.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Away they went fleetly and gracefully, for having practiced at home, they were well matched, and the blithe young couple were a pleasant sight to see, as they twirled merrily round and round, feeling more friendly than ever after their small tiff.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)