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Whirlwind vs Swirl - What's the difference?

whirlwind | swirl |

In figuratively|lang=en terms the difference between whirlwind and swirl

is that whirlwind is (figuratively) a person or body of objects or events sweeping violently onward while swirl is (figuratively) to circulate.

As nouns the difference between whirlwind and swirl

is that whirlwind is a violent windstorm of limited extent, as the tornado, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air it usually has a rapid progressive motion while swirl is a whirling eddy.

As an adjective whirlwind

is rapid and minimal: a whirlwind tour'', ''a whirlwind guide .

As a verb swirl is

(ambitransitive) to twist or whirl, as an eddy.

whirlwind

English

Noun

(wikipedia whirlwind)
  • A violent windstorm of limited extent, as the tornado, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air. It usually has a rapid progressive motion.
  • (figuratively) A person or body of objects or events sweeping violently onward.
    • The weeks leading up to the convention were a whirlwind of preparation and hurried activity.
    Once he got that new scooter he turned into a whirlwind and damaged all the flowers.

    Derived terms

    *

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Rapid and minimal: a whirlwind tour'', ''a whirlwind guide .

    • swirl

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A whirling eddy.
  • A twist or coil of something.

    • Derived terms

    * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (ambitransitive) To twist or whirl, as an eddy.
    • I swirled my brush around in the paint.
  • * Charles Kingsley
    • The river swirled along.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=May 13 , author=Alistair Magowan , title=Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The contest was a lot more even in the second half, as the wind swirled around the Stadium of Light, but it took Craig Gardner's superb block to prevent Young getting on the scoresheet.}}
  • To be arranged in a twist, spiral or whorl.
  • (figuratively) to circulate
  • * 2013 May 23, , " British Leader’s Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Party," New York Times (retrieved 29 May 2013):
    • Mr. Cameron had a respite Thursday from the negative chatter swirling around him when he appeared outside 10 Downing Street to denounce the murder a day before of a British soldier on a London street.