1
: a drum-shaped section on the lower part of a spindle in spinning or weaving machinery serving as a pulley for the tape drive that rotates the spindle
2
: an arrangement of similar anatomical parts (such as leaves) in a circle around a point on an axis
3
: something that whirls, coils, or spirals or whose form suggests such movement : swirl
whorls of snow
4
: one of the turns of a univalve shell
5
: a fingerprint in which the central papillary ridges turn through at least one complete circle

Examples of whorl in a Sentence

the whorls and eddies of the river the whorl of a fingerprint
Recent Examples on the Web How better to express all that than by slicing paper into handmade greeting cards, with whorls that can be pulled up to form gossamer cages for images of lovebirds, bouquets, engagement rings, or even rodents? The New York Times, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 The remains of sheep and goats abounded, as did spindle whorls, probably used to make yarn, and simple looms—all clear signs of weaving activity. Andrew Lawler, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2010 Level 1 encompasses visible ridge patterns, so loops, whorls and arches. Partha Banerjee, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2024 Several independent groups have now reported the oddly sluggish orbits of stars along the Milky Way’s outer rim, the peripheral edge of our galaxy’s luminous whorl. Adam Mann, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2023 Lo, Posh and Becks emerged, into the primordial celebrity whorl of the ’90s. Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2023 Few studies on canine whorls have been reported and none have assessed whorl position or direction of flow. Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2012 People may use the whorls of a labyrinth — unicursal constructions that wind to the center — to enter an exalted, spiritual state: Take, for example, the pilgrims who have flocked to the church labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France for a thousand years. Ingrid Rojas Contreras, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2023 The strongest looks were a strong black suit or a spliced black shift dress that would jibe perfectly with any gallery opening; other contenders included a white dress worked into a whorl of a blossom on one side, or an abstract print crimped into an asymmetric dress. Tina Isaac-Goizé, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whorl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wharle, whorle, probably alteration of whirle, from whirlen to whirl

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of whorl was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near whorl

Cite this Entry

“Whorl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whorl. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

whorl

noun
ˈhwȯr(-ə)l How to pronounce whorl (audio) ˈwȯr(-ə)l How to pronounce whorl (audio)
ˈhwər(-ə)l,
ˈwər(-ə)l
1
: a row of similar parts (as leaves or petals) in a circle around a point and especially a stem
2
: something that whirls or winds around a center
a whorl of smoke
3
: one of the turns of a shell (as of a snail) having just one valve
4
: a fingerprint in which the central ridges on the skin turn through at least one complete circle

Medical Definition

whorl

noun
ˈhwor(-ə)l How to pronounce whorl (audio) ˈwȯr(-ə)l How to pronounce whorl (audio)
ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l
: a fingerprint in which the central papillary ridges turn through at least one complete turn
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