swirls
Moves in spirals
Swirls is the plural of swirl—circular or spiral patterns of movement or shape.
Water swirls down a drain; cream swirls in coffee; decorative swirls adorn a cake.
The verb swirls describes this spinning motion: Dust swirls in the wind, Rumors swirled about the merger.
The word suggests graceful, continuous curves rather than sharp angles.
Rotating water formation
- eddyCircular counter-current
- vortexRotating fluid column
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- currentDirected flow of charge
ripple · wake · backwash · undertow · maelstrom · drain · funnel · mixing
Rapid rotation around axis
- spiralCurve winding around center
- rotateTurn about an axis
- gyrateMove in spirals
- circulateMove in a loop
eddy · churn · coil · curl · loop · twist · revolve · swivel
Curve winding around center
- whorlSpiral arrangement of ridges
- curlicueDecorative spiral stroke
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
- flourishTo grow vigorously
scroll · tendril · filigree · paisley · marbling · mandala · rosette · volute
Rotating low-pressure storm system
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
- twisterRotating destructive windstorm
vortex · maelstrom · funnel · waterspout · whirlwind · gyre · eddy · supercell
Mark left by painter's tool
- impastoHeavily applied pigment technique
- abstractCondensed version of text
- impressionismStyle prioritizing perception
- marblingStreaky fat distribution
watercolor · calligraphy · flourish · sketch · illustration · icing · glaze · finger-painting
whirlpool
Rotating water formation
- eddyCircular counter-current
- vortexRotating fluid column
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
current · ripple · wake · backwash · undertow · maelstrom · drain · funnel · mixing · emulsion
spin
Rapid rotation around axis
circulate · eddy · churn · coil · curl · loop · twist · revolve · swivel · pirouette
spiral
Curve winding around center
flourish · scroll · tendril · filigree · paisley · marbling · mandala · rosette · volute · helix
cyclone
Rotating low-pressure storm system
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
twister · vortex · maelstrom · funnel · waterspout · whirlwind · gyre · eddy · supercell · anticyclone
brushstroke
Mark left by painter's tool
- impastoHeavily applied pigment technique
- abstractCondensed version of text
- impressionismStyle prioritizing perception
marbling · watercolor · calligraphy · flourish · sketch · illustration · icing · glaze · finger-painting
- curvescurve, arc, curves, curls, curl
- decorative motifsscrolls, flourishes, spirals, curls, vines
- PsychedeliaLSD, acid, psychedelic posters, tie-dye, hallucination
- wood grainstraight grain, fine grain, coarse grain, end grain, bird's eye
- kids' artcrayons, stick figures, finger painting, scribbles, chalk
- party suppliesballoon, balloons, confetti, streamers, banners
swirlsstraight lines
Unbent one-dimensional figures
lines · straight edges · stripes · angles · edges
- cinnamon swirlPastry with spiced spiral
- swirl cone
- swirling vortex
- swirling mass
- swirling patterns
- caramel swirlSugary brown ribbon in treats