whirlwind
WURL-wihnd
Whirlwind (noun) means a small, rapidly rotating column of air, such as a dust devil or small tornado. Example: “A whirlwind kicked up dust across the empty parking lot.”
noun
1
A small, rapidly rotating column of air, such as a dust devil or small tornado.
"A whirlwind kicked up dust across the empty parking lot."
adj
1
Extremely fast-moving and often overwhelming.
"They had a whirlwind romance and were engaged within three months."
How to use whirlwind
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spinning gust of wind, or, as an adjective, something fast and intense.
Common pairings
whirlwind romance
whirlwind tour
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Word forms
- Plural
- whirlwinds
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ kicked up dust across the empty parking lot.
Etymology
A compound of whirl and wind, describing wind that spins in place rather than blowing in a straight line.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “whirlwind” mean?
The word “whirlwind” means a small, rapidly rotating column of air, such as a dust devil or small tornado. In plain terms, a spinning gust of wind, or, as an adjective, something fast and intense.
How do you pronounce “whirlwind”?
“Whirlwind” is pronounced WURL-wihnd (/ˈ(h)wɝlwɪnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “whirlwind” in a sentence?
Here is “whirlwind” used in a sentence: “A whirlwind kicked up dust across the empty parking lot.”
What part of speech is “whirlwind”?
Depending on how it is used, “whirlwind” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “whirlwind” a common word?
“Whirlwind” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “whirlwind” have?
“Whirlwind” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, rapidly rotating column of air, such as a dust devil or small tornado.
