WHIR

whir, whirr, whirring, birr

(noun) sound of something in rapid motion; “whir of a bird’s wings”; “the whir of the propellers”

whizz, whiz, whirr, whir, birr, purr

(verb) make a soft swishing sound; “the motor whirred”; “the car engine purred”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Noun

whir (plural whirs)

Alternative spelling of whirr

Verb

whir (third-person singular simple present whirs, present participle whirring, simple past and past participle whirred)

Alternative spelling of whirr

Source: Wiktionary

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Whir, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whirred; p. pr. & vb. n. Whirring.] Etym: [Perhaps of imitative origin; cf. D. hvirre to whirl, and E. hurr, hurry, whirl.

Definition: To whirl round, or revolve, with a whizzing noise; to fly or more quickly with a buzzing or whizzing sound; to whiz. The partridge bursts away on whirring wings. Beattie.

Whir, v. t. Etym: [See Whir to whiz.]

Definition: To hurry a long with a whizzing sound. [R.] This world to me is like a lasting storm, Whirring me from my friends. Shak.

Whir, n.

Definition: A buzzing or whizzing sound produced by rapid or whirling motion; as, the whir of a partridge; the whir of a spinning wheel.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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