twirling
Spinning between fingers
Twirling is spinning or rotating something rapidly, usually with the fingers or wrist: She sat twirling a pen while she thought.
Batons, hair, and pasta on forks get twirled.
The word suggests a light, playful motion—more casual than spinning, less forceful than whirling.
Someone can twirl in place, turning their whole body: The dancer twirled across the stage.
Refined, graceful quality
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
- fluidityState of flowing freely
- litheSupple and graceful
willowy · airy · delicate · ethereal · flowing · swan · sylphlike · chiffon
Ballet turn on one foot
- balletClassical dance on pointe
- waltzDance in three-quarter time
- ballroomVenue for formal dances
- choreographyDesigning performance movement sequences
foxtrot · tango · salsa · flamenco · samba · swing · jive · arabesque
Turning on an axis
- spinningRevolving around an axis
- gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
- centrifugeSpinning density-separation device
carousel · merry-go-round · turntable · pinwheel · propeller · windmill · rotor · spindle
Sensation of spinning
- lightheadedFaint and unsteady feeling
- disorientedLacking sense of direction
- giddyDizzy or excitedly silly
- spinningRevolving around an axis
unsteady · woozy · faint · reeling · stagger · blur · sway · queasy
Lighthearted playful movement
- whimsicalPlayfully fanciful or erratic
- merryCheerful and lively
- livelyAnimated and energetic
- giddyDizzy or excitedly silly
frisky · carefree · joyful · spinning · carnival · pinwheel · sparkler · maypole
Capture attention completely
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
- spellbindingCompletely capturing one's attention
- captivateHold attention irresistibly
- entrancePoint of access
enchanting · dervish · meditation · spiral · kaleidoscope · mandala · pendulum · repetitive
elegance
Refined, graceful quality
lithe · willowy · airy · delicate · ethereal · flowing · swan · sylphlike · chiffon · tulle
pirouette
Ballet turn on one foot
choreography · foxtrot · tango · salsa · flamenco · samba · swing · jive · arabesque · plié
rotation
Turning on an axis
- spinningRevolving around an axis
- gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation
- turbineBlade-driven energy converter
centrifuge · carousel · merry-go-round · turntable · pinwheel · propeller · windmill · rotor · spindle · axis
vertigo
Sensation of spinning
- lightheadedFaint and unsteady feeling
- disorientedLacking sense of direction
- giddyDizzy or excitedly silly
spinning · unsteady · woozy · faint · reeling · stagger · blur · sway · queasy · equilibrium
frolic
Lighthearted playful movement
giddy · frisky · carefree · joyful · spinning · carnival · pinwheel · sparkler · maypole · playground
mesmerize
Capture attention completely
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
- spellbindingCompletely capturing one's attention
- captivateHold attention irresistibly
entrance · enchanting · dervish · meditation · spiral · kaleidoscope · mandala · pendulum · repetitive · rhythmic
- movementwalk, move, go, run, jump
- action verbsrun, jump, chase, grab, climb
- kid activitiesplaying, running, jumping, climbing, swinging
- dance qualitiesfluidity, graceful, musicality, rhythmic, grace
- fidgetingfidgeting, fidget, tapping, fiddle, finger tapping
- joyful movementsdancing, skipping, jumping, leaping, spinning
- baton twirling
- hair twirlingWinding strands around fingers
- twirling batonRod spun for performance
twirl, whirl, whirling, whirled, twirled, twirls, twirler, whirler, twirlers