Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Whirl \Whirl\, n. [Cf. Dan. hvirvel, Sw. hvirfvel, Icel.
   hvirfill the crown of the head, G. wirbel whirl, crown of the
   head, D. wervel. See {Whirl}, v. t.]
   1. A turning with rapidity or velocity; rapid rotation or
      circumvolution; quick gyration; rapid or confusing motion;
      as, the whirl of a top; the whirl of a wheel. ``In no
      breathless whirl.'' --J. H. Newman.

            The rapid . . . whirl of things here below interrupt
            not the inviolable rest and calmness of the noble
            beings above.                         --South.

   2. Anything that moves with a whirling motion.

            He saw Falmouth under gray, iron skies, and whirls
            of March dust.                        --Carlyle.

   3. A revolving hook used in twisting, as the hooked spindle
      of a rope machine, to which the threads to be twisted are
      attached.

   4. (Bot. & Zo["o]l.) A whorl. See {Whorl}.

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}.]
   1. To turn round rapidly; to cause to rotate with velocity;
      to make to revolve.

            He whirls his sword around without delay. --Dryden.

   2. To remove or carry quickly with, or as with, a revolving
      motion; to snatch; to harry. --Chaucer.

            See, see the chariot, and those rushing wheels, That
            whirled the prophet up at Chebar flood. --Milton.

            The passionate heart of the poet is whirl'd into
            folly.                                --Tennyson.

Whirl \Whirl\, v. i.
   1. To be turned round rapidly; to move round with velocity;
      to revolve or rotate with great speed; to gyrate. ``The
      whirling year vainly my dizzy eyes pursue.'' --J. H.
      Newman.

            The wooden engine flies and whirls about. --Dryden.

   2. To move hastily or swiftly.

            But whirled away to shun his hateful sight.
                                                  --Dryden.

Source : WordNet®

whirl
     n 1: confused movement; "he was caught up in a whirl of work"; "a
          commotion of people fought for the exits" [syn: {commotion}]
     2: the shape of something rotating rapidly [syn: {swirl}, {vortex},
         {convolution}]
     3: a usually brief attempt; "he took a crack at it"; "I gave it
        a whirl" [syn: {crack}, {fling}, {go}, {pass}, {offer}]
     4: the act of rotating rapidly; "he gave the crank a spin"; "it
        broke off after much twisting" [syn: {spin}, {twirl}, {twist},
         {twisting}]

whirl
     v 1: turn in a twisting or spinning motion; "The leaves swirled
          in the autumn wind" [syn: {twirl}, {swirl}, {twiddle}]
     2: cause to spin; "spin a coin" [syn: {birl}, {spin}, {twirl}]
     3: flow in a circular current, of liquids [syn: {eddy}, {purl},
         {whirlpool}, {swirl}]
     4: revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis; "The
        dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy"
        [syn: {spin}, {spin around}, {reel}, {gyrate}]
     5: fly around; "The clothes tumbled in the dryer";  "rising
        smoke whirled in the air" [syn: {tumble}, {whirl around}]