ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Whir', Synonyms of 'Whir' & More on 'Whir'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

whir
    n 1: sound of something in rapid motion; "whir of a bird's
         wings"; "the whir of the propellers" [syn: whir, whirr,
         whirring, birr]
    v 1: make a soft swishing sound; "the motor whirred"; "the car
         engine purred" [syn: whizz, whiz, whirr, whir,
         birr, purr]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Whir \Whir\, v. t. [See Whir to whiz.]
   To hurry a long with a whizzing sound. [R.]
   [1913 Webster]

         This world to me is like a lasting storm,
         Whirring me from my friends.             --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Whir \Whir\, n.
   A buzzing or whizzing sound produced by rapid or whirling
   motion; as, the whir of a partridge; the whir of a spinning
   wheel.
   [1913 Webster]

4. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Whir \Whir\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whirred; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Whirring.] [Perhaps of imitative origin; cf. D. hvirre to
   whirl, and E. hurr, hurry, whirl. ???.]
   To whirl round, or revolve, with a whizzing noise; to fly or
   more quickly with a buzzing or whizzing sound; to whiz.
   [1913 Webster]

         The partridge bursts away on whirring wings. --Beattie.
   [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for Whir:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

angular momentum, angular motion, angular velocity, axial motion, birr, bombilate, bombinate, boom, bowling, bum, burr, buzz, centrifugation, circulation, circumgyration, circumrotation, drone, full circle, gyration, hum, pivoting, purr, reeling, revolution, roll, rolling, rotation, rotational motion, spin, spinning, swinging, swirling, swiveling, thrum, trolling, trundling, turbination, turning, volutation, volution, wheeling, whirling, whiz

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