Link Centre Dictionary

whirlpool

whirl·pool

UK/ˈwɜːlpuːl/ US/ˈwɝlpul/ uncommon
noun (1) verb (1)

noun

1.

a powerful circular current of water (usually the resulting of conflicting tides)

Synonyms

verb

1.

flow in a circular current, of liquids

Synonyms

Origin

From earlier whirlpoole, whirlpole, apparently from Middle English *whirlpole, potentially coalescing Old English hwierfel (“whirlpool”) and Old English hwierfepōl (“whirlpool”). Equivalent to whirl + pool. Cognate with Scots quhirlepole, whirle-pule (“whirlpool”). Compare also English whirlpit. Eclipsed non-native Middle English gurges (“whirlpool”), borrowed from Latin gurges (“whirlpool”).

Phrases

  • whirlpool bath
  • whirlpool galaxy

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.