Whirlpool
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 A swirling body of water.
"A whirlpool is an instance of a vortex produced by ocean tides, or by a hole underneath where the water would drain out, such as in a bathtub."
- 2 a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides) wordnet
- 3 A hot tub, jacuzzi.
"The meatloaf has been cooking in the oven for the last hour and should be ready just about the time George climbs out of the whirlpool."
- 4 A state of turmoil, or agitated excitement.
- 1 To spin or swirl like the water in a whirlpool. intransitive
- 2 flow in a circular current, of liquids wordnet
Example
More examples"It has a big whirlpool and a strong current."
Etymology
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”).
Related phrases
More for "whirlpool"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.