swirl
UK: swɜːl | US: swɜːrl
v. to move or cause to move in a twisting or spiraling motion
n. a twisting or spiraling movement or pattern
The word "swirl" likely originates from Middle English swirlen, meaning "to whirl or eddy," possibly influenced by Old Norse svirla (to swirl) or Dutch zwirrelen (to whirl). The morpheme sw- suggests swift motion (seen in words like "sweep" or "swift"), while -irl conveys repetitive or circular movement. Over time, it evolved to describe fluid, twisting motions in both literal (e.g., water) and figurative contexts.
The leaves began to swirl in the autumn wind.
She stirred the paint, creating a vibrant swirl of colors.
The dancer’s skirt swirled gracefully as she spun.
A swirl of fog enveloped the mountain peak.
He watched the coffee swirl in his cup absentmindedly.