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Whirr

//wɜː// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A sibilant buzz or vibration; the sound of something in rapid motion.

    "At that moment a flight of birds passed close overhead, and at the whirr of their wings a panic fear seized her."

  2. 2
    sound of something in rapid motion wordnet
  3. 3
    A bustle of noise and excitement.
  4. 4
    The vibrating sound made by a panther in its throat when contented.
Verb
  1. 1
    To move or vibrate (something) with a buzzing sound.
  2. 2
    make a vibrant sound, as of some birds wordnet
  3. 3
    To make a sibilant buzzing or droning sound. intransitive

    "In a city where media companies and hospitals have armed guards, this accessibility is unusual. Inside, drivers sit and chat in between shifts, the overhead fan whirring and causing the dim electric light to flicker over their faces."

  4. 4
    make a soft swishing sound wordnet
  5. 5
    To cause (something) to make such a sound. transitive
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  1. 6
    (of a panther) To make a vibrating sound in its throat when contented, much like the domestic cat’s purr. intransitive

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English whirren, probably from Old Norse: compare Danish hvirre, virre, Norwegian kvirre, Old Norse hvirfla (“to whirl, spread”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English whirren, probably from Old Norse: compare Danish hvirre, virre, Norwegian kvirre, Old Norse hvirfla (“to whirl, spread”).

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