swirl

6 definitions • 12 examples

to move quickly with a twisting, circular movement, or to make something do this:

The fog swirled thickly around us.

Swirl a little oil around the frying pan.

If ideas or stories about somebody or something swirl, they are often heard but may not be based on fact or may not always say the same thing:

Rumours have swirled for years that he is on the point of retiring.

Much of the controversy that swirls around her ignores the actual content of her work.

the act of moving quickly with a twisting, circular movement, or something that moves in this way:

With a swirl of his black cloak, he leaves the stage.

The truck went by in a swirl of dust.

a twisting, circular shape:

A swirl of cream will make a dish look more fancy.

The green plastic has a black swirl pattern set over the top.

the sharing and repeating of ideas or stories about somebody or something that may not be true:

The swirl of rumours and speculation never stopped.

to move quickly with a twisting circular movement, or to cause something to move this way:

[ I ] Snowflakes swirled down from the sky.

[ I ] fig. Accusations continue to swirl around him.

[ T ] I swirled cocoa through the dough.