whorl

noun

ˈ(h)wȯr(-ə)l  ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l 

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

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

Plus, with whorls of rubbery leaves, certain euphorbias create a fun, funky shape. —Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023

Scalp hair whorl pattern is typically defined by either a single or double whorl and the direction of the whorl direction (clockwise, counterclockwise, or diffuse). —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Aug. 2023

Their primary characteristic is having flower heads with sometimes hundreds of individual florets surrounded by a whorl of protective bracts, which are typically daisy-like in appearance. —Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 28 Aug. 2023

Since atypical whorl patterns have been seen in some patients with abnormal neurological development, studying and understanding the genetic influence on whorl patterns may help scientists better understand some important biological processes. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Aug. 2023

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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

Kids Definition

whorl

noun

ˈhwȯr(-ə)l  ˈwȯr(-ə)l 

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  ˈwȯr(-ə)l 

ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l

: a fingerprint in which the central papillary ridges turn through at least one complete turn