swirl
Spin in circles
Swirl describes circular or spiral motion—liquid moving in curves, smoke coiling upward, dancers spinning.
As a noun, it's the pattern itself: a swirl of cream in coffee, swirls of color.
Things swirl when they move in curving paths or create spiral shapes: Leaves swirled in the wind.
Figuratively, thoughts or emotions swirl when they feel chaotic or overwhelming: Rumors swirled around the resignation.
Rapid rotation around axis
- twirlRotate rapidly, often playfully
- rotateTurn about an axis
- revolveTurn around center
- gyrateMove in spirals
spiral · wheel · pivot · coil · curl · corkscrew · whorl · loop
Curve winding around center
- helixSpiraling three-dimensional curve
- curlicueDecorative spiral stroke
- voluteArchitectural spiral ornament
- scrollWound document of parchment
arabesque · flourish · tendril · whorl · nautilus · fiddlehead · paisley · marbling
Rotating water formation
- maelstromViolent whirlpool or upheaval
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
typhoon · waterspout · funnel · eddy · gyre · centrifuge · suction · undertow
spin
Rapid rotation around axis
gyrate · spiral · wheel · pivot · coil · curl · corkscrew · whorl · loop · orbit
spiral
Curve winding around center
- helixSpiraling three-dimensional curve
- curlicueDecorative spiral stroke
- voluteArchitectural spiral ornament
scroll · arabesque · flourish · tendril · whorl · nautilus · fiddlehead · paisley · marbling · tie-dye
whirlpool
Rotating water formation
- maelstromViolent whirlpool or upheaval
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
hurricane · typhoon · waterspout · funnel · eddy · gyre · centrifuge · suction · undertow · riptide
stir
Mix by circling
incorporate · agitate · combine · muddle · emulsify · marble · ripple · streak · infuse · dissolve
whirlwind
Violently rotating air column
frenzy · hubbub · activity · chaos · excitement · dizzying · blur · rush · buzz · hype
- patternspattern, chevron, geometric pattern, stripes, plaid
- curvescurve, arc, curves, curls, curl
- illusionsmirage, optical illusion, hallucination, illusion, afterimage
- mixingmix, stir, blend, shake, combine
- Motifsarabesque, flower, damask, leaf, vine
- spiralsspiral, helix, logarithmic spiral, coil, whorl
- cinnamon swirlPastry with spiced spiral
- swirl cone
- swirling vortex
- swirling mass
- swirling patterns
- caramel swirlSugary brown ribbon in treats