whorled

adjective \ ˈhwȯr(-ə)ld , ˈwȯr(-ə)ld , ˈ(h)wər(-ə)ld \

Definition of whorled

: having or arranged in whorls

leaves whorled at the nodes of the stem

Recent Examples of whorled from the Web

Its leaves are narrow and whorled, and flowers are green and white with tinges of purple.

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Garden plants vital to the life of butterflies | Idaho Statesman," 18 Oct. 2017
True to its name, the foot-long snail kite eats only snails—its hooked beak is the ideal shape for plucking muscular morsels from whorled shells.

— National Geographic, "Deadly Brain Disease Is Driving Swamp Birds Insane," 18 May 2016
McCormick analyzed the DNA of soil samples collected immediately adjacent to wild small-whorled pogonias, and used that data to calculate how much Russulaceae hyphae was present in the soil at each site.

— jackson landers, Smithsonian, "A Mystery of Hiding Orchids, Solved," 19 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whorled.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.