- [intransitive, transitive]
to move, or make somebody/something move, around quickly in a circle or in a particular direction （使）旋转，回旋，打转 - (+ adv./prep.)
Leaves whirled in the wind. 落叶在风中旋转。 🔊🔊 She whirled around to face him. 她猛地转过身子面对着他。 🔊🔊 They ducked to avoid the whirling blades of the helicopter. 他们躲开避开直升机旋转的叶片。 - whirl somebody/something (+ adv./prep.)
Tom whirled her across the dance floor. 汤姆拥着她从舞池的一边旋转到另一边。 🔊🔊
Extra ExamplesHe grasped her wrist and whirled her back to face him. 他抓住她的手腕，猛地把她扭过身来面对着他。 He whirled her around the dance floor. 他拥着她围着舞池旋转。 She whirled on him, furious. 她突然转身，愤怒地对着他。 She whirled round and round, flinging out her arms. 她转过身转过身，伸出手臂。 The gulls were whirling and shrieking in the sky above. 海鸥在上方的天空中旋转着尖叫。
- (+ adv./prep.)
- [intransitive]
if your mind, thoughts, etc. whirl, you feel confused and excited and cannot think clearly （头脑、思想等）混乱不清，激动，恍惚 I couldn't sleep—my mind was whirling from all that had happened. 我睡不着，所发生的一切一直在脑子里转来转去。 🔊🔊 So many thoughts whirled around in her mind. 她思绪万千，脑子里乱作一团。 🔊🔊
Word OriginMiddle English: the verb probably from Old Norse hvirfla ‘turn about’; the noun partly from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wervel ‘spindle’, or from Old Norse hvirfill ‘circle’, from a Germanic base meaning ‘rotate’.