Added 8 October 2026
whirlwind
/ˈwɜːlwɪnd/ noun
In Latin: turbō, vertex Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about whirlwind at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A windstorm of limited extent, such as a tornado, dust devil, or waterspout, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air.
-
A person or body of objects or events sweeping violently onward.
Once he got that new scooter he turned into a whirlwind and damaged all the flowers.
adjective
Origin
From Middle English whirlewind, whirlewynde, equivalent to whirl + wind. Compare Middle Dutch wervelwint, Old Norse hvirfilvindr.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)