whir

whir
    n 1: sound of something in rapid motion; "whir of a bird's
         wings"; "the whir of the propellers" [syn: {whir}, {whirr},
         {whirring}, {birr}]
    v 1: make a soft swishing sound; "the motor whirred"; "the car
         engine purred" [syn: {whizz}, {whiz}, {whirr}, {whir},
         {birr}, {purr}]
    

Whir \Whir\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Whirred}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Whirring}.] [Perhaps of imitative origin; cf. D. hvirre to
   whirl, and E. hurr, hurry, whirl. ???.]
   To whirl round, or revolve, with a whizzing noise; to fly or
   more quickly with a buzzing or whizzing sound; to whiz.
   [1913 Webster]

         The partridge bursts away on whirring wings. --Beattie.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Whir \Whir\, v. t. [See {Whir} to whiz.]
   To hurry a long with a whizzing sound. [R.]
   [1913 Webster]

         This world to me is like a lasting storm,
         Whirring me from my friends.             --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Whir \Whir\, n.
   A buzzing or whizzing sound produced by rapid or whirling
   motion; as, the whir of a partridge; the whir of a spinning
   wheel.
   [1913 Webster]
    

43 Moby Thesaurus words for "whir":
      angular momentum, angular motion, angular velocity, axial motion,
      birr, bombilate, bombinate, boom, bowling, bum, burr, buzz,
      centrifugation, circulation, circumgyration, circumrotation, drone,
      full circle, gyration, hum, pivoting, purr, reeling, revolution,
      roll, rolling, rotation, rotational motion, spin, spinning,
      swinging, swirling, swiveling, thrum, trolling, trundling,
      turbination, turning, volutation, volution, wheeling, whirling,
      whiz