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 See More

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 5 Dec. 2023.

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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