twirl Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a sharp bend in a line produced when a line having a loop is pulled tight
    twist; kink.
  2. noun the act of rotating rapidly
    twist; whirl; twisting; spin.
    • he gave the crank a spin
    • it broke off after much twisting
  3. verb turn in a twisting or spinning motion
    swirl; whirl; twiddle.
    • The leaves swirled in the autumn wind
  4. verb cause to spin
    whirl; spin; birl.
    • spin a coin

WordNet

Twirl transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. AS. þwiril a churn staff, a stirrer, flail, þweran, aþweran, to agitate, twirl, G. zwirlen, quirlen, to twirl, to turn round or about, quirl a twirling stick, OHG. dweran to twirl, stir. Cf. Trowel.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Twirled ; present participle & verbal noun Twirling
Definitions
  1. To move or turn round rapidly; to whirl round; to move and turn rapidly with the fingers.
    See ruddy maids, Some taught with dexterous hand to twirl the wheel. Dodsley.
    No more beneath soft eve's consenting star Fandango twirls his jocund castanet. Byron.
Twirl intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To revolve with velocity; to be whirled round rapidly.
Twirl noun
Definitions
  1. The act of twirling; a rapid circular motion; a whirl or whirling; quick rotation.
  2. A twist; a convolution. Woodward.

Webster 1913