Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [hwur, wur]
- /ʰwɜr, wɜr/
- /wɜːr/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [hwur, wur]
- /ʰwɜr, wɜr/
Definitions of whir word
- verb without object whir to go, fly, revolve, or otherwise move quickly with a humming or buzzing sound: An electric fan whirred softly in the corner. 1
- verb with object whir to move or transport (a thing, person, etc.) with a whirring sound: The plane whirred them away into the night. 1
- noun whir an act or sound of whirring: the whir of wings. 1
- noun whir (especially of a machine or a bird's wings ) make a low, continuous, regular sound. 1
- intransitive verb whir make hum or buzzing sound 1
- noun whir hum or buzzing sound 1
Information block about the term
Origin of whir
First appearance:
before 1350 One of the 20% oldest English words
1350-1400; Middle English quirre (Scots) < Scandinavian; compare Danish hvirre, Norwegian kvirra. See whirl
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Whir
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
whir popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 81% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
whir usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for whir
verb whir
- hum — to make a low, continuous, droning sound.
- purr — to utter a low, continuous, murmuring sound expressive of contentment or pleasure, as a cat does.
- buzz — If something buzzes or buzzes somewhere, it makes a long continuous sound, like the noise a bee makes when it is flying.
- whine — to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc.: The puppies were whining from hunger.
- drone — Music. a continuous low tone produced by the bass pipes or bass strings of musical instruments. the pipes (especially of the bagpipe) or strings producing this tone. a bagpipe equipped with such pipes.
noun whir
- commotion — A commotion is a lot of noise, confusion, and excitement.
- bustle — If someone bustles somewhere, they move there in a hurried way, often because they are very busy.
- fly — to move through the air using wings.
- move — to pass from one place or position to another.
- revolve — to move in a circular or curving course or orbit: The earth revolves around the sun.
Top questions with whir
- what is whir?
- what does whir mean?