What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Whirl vs Whir - What's the difference?

whirl | whir |

As verbs the difference between whirl and whir

is that whirl is to rotate, revolve, spin or turn rapidly while whir is an alternative spelling of lang=en.

As nouns the difference between whirl and whir

is that whirl is an act of whirling while whir is an alternative spelling of lang=en.

whirl

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (label) To rotate, revolve, spin or turn rapidly.
  • * (John Dryden) (1631-1700)
  • He whirls his sword around without delay.
  • * 1900 , , (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
  • The house whirled around two or three times and rose slowly through the air. Dorothy felt as if she were going up in a balloon.
  • (label) To have a sensation of spinning or reeling.
  • (label) To make something or someone whirl.
  • (label) To remove or carry quickly with, or as with, a revolving motion; to snatch.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • See, see the chariot, and those rushing wheels, / That whirled the prophet up at Chebar flood.
  • * (1809-1892)
  • The passionate heart of the poet is whirl'd into folly.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of whirling.
  • She gave the top a whirl and it spun across the floor.
  • Something that whirls.
  • A confused tumult.
  • A rapid series of events
  • My life is one social whirl .
  • Dizziness or giddiness.
  • A brief experiment or trial.
  • OK, let's give it a whirl .

    Derived terms

    * whirligig * whirlpool English terms with homophones

    whir

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • *1909 , (William Hope Hodgson), (The Ghost Pirates)
  • *:Suddenly, the time-keeper struck three bells, and the deeper notes of the bell forrard, answered them. I gave a start. It seemed to me that they had been struck close to my elbow. There was something unaccountably strange in the air that night. Then, even as the Second Mate answered the look-out's "All's well," there came the sharp whir and rattle of running gear, on the port side of the mainmast.
  • Verb

    (en-verb)