wə:l v. & n. --v. 1 tr. & intr.
swing round and round;
revolve rapidly. 2 tr. & intr. (foll. by away)
convey or go rapidly in a
vehicle etc. 3 tr. & intr.
send or
travel swiftly in an
orbit or a
curve. 4 intr. a (of
the brain, senses, etc.)
seem to
spin round. b (of thoughts etc.) be confused;
follow each other in bewildering
succession. --n. 1 a whirling
movement (vanished in a whirl of dust). 2 a
state of
intense activity (the
social whirl). 3 a state of
confusion (my
mind is in a whirl). 4 colloq. an
attempt (give it a whirl). øwhirling
dervish see DERVISH. øøwhirler n. whirlingly adv. [ME: (v.) f. ON hvirfla: (n.) f. MLG & MDu. wervel
spindle & ON hvirfill
circle f. Gmc]