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


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


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



RESET




Word of the Day

23 January 2025

LEFT

(adjective) being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north; “my left hand”; “left center field”; “the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream”


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Coffee Trivia

In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.

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