whir Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun sound of something in rapid motion
    birr; whirring; whirr.
    • whir of a bird's wings
    • the whir of the propellers
  2. verb make a soft swishing sound
    purr; birr; whizz; whiz; whirr.
    • the motor whirred
    • the car engine purred

WordNet

Whir intransitive verb
Etymology
Perhaps of imitative origin; cf. D. hvirre to whirl, and E. hurr, hurry, whirl. .
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Whirred ; present participle & verbal noun Whirring
Definitions
  1. 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 transitive verb
Etymology
See Whir to whiz.
Definitions
  1. 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 noun
Definitions
  1. A buzzing or whizzing sound produced by rapid or whirling motion; as, the whir of a partridge; the whir of a spinning wheel.

Webster 1913