whirling

whirling
    n 1: the act of rotating in a circle or spiral [syn: {gyration},
         {whirling}]
    

Whirl \Whirl\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Whirled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Whirling}.] [OE. whirlen, probably from the Scand.; cf.
   Icel. & Sw. hvirfla, Dan. hvirvle; akin to D. wervelen, G.
   wirbeln, freq. of the verb seen in Icel. hverfa to turn.
   [root]16. See {Wharf}, and cf. {Warble}, {Whorl}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To turn round rapidly; to cause to rotate with velocity;
      to make to revolve.
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            He whirls his sword around without delay. --Dryden.
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   2. To remove or carry quickly with, or as with, a revolving
      motion; to snatch; to harry. --Chaucer.
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            See, see the chariot, and those rushing wheels,
            That whirled the prophet up at Chebar flood.
                                                  --Milton.
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            The passionate heart of the poet is whirl'd into
            folly.                                --Tennyson.
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Whirling \Whirl"ing\,
   a. & n. from {Whirl}, v. t.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Whirling table}.
   (a) (Physics) An apparatus provided with one or more
       revolving disks, with weights, pulleys, and other
       attachments, for illustrating the phenomena and laws of
       centrifugal force, and the like.
   (b) A potter's wheel.
       [1913 Webster]
    

35 Moby Thesaurus words for "whirling":
      angular momentum, angular motion, angular velocity, axial motion,
      bowling, centrifugation, circulation, circumgyration,
      circumrotation, full circle, gyrating, gyration, pivoting, reeling,
      revolution, revolving, roll, rolling, rotating, rotation,
      rotational motion, spin, spinning, swinging, swirling, swiveling,
      trolling, trundling, turbination, turning, twirling, volutation,
      volution, wheeling, whir