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“Whirl” or “Whorl”

whirl / whorl are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

whirl w·ER·l

  • nounconfused movement.
  • nounthe shape of something rotating rapidly.
  • verbcause to spin.
  • verbfly around.

whorl w·ER·l

No dictionary entry for this spelling — see the usage examples below for how it shows up in writing.

Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“whirl”

  • The schools bought the Miracle Whirl to entertain their students during
  • …the production for the Miracle Whirl merry-go-round in the Grinnell Glove
  • …manufacturing and selling the Miracle Whirl.
  • …— are sucked into a whirl of state-sponsored distrust.

“whorl”

  • The periphery of the body whorl is marked by a sulcus…
  • …revolving ridges on the body whorl, with intermediate close revolving striae.
  • The last whorl is angled on the periphery.
  • The shell contains about three whorls with 1½ whorl in the
  • The periphery of the body whorl and base are well rounded.
  • It contains about five whorls, the body whorl much the…
  • The body whorl is shorter than the spire.
  • …narrow venter and compressed, lanceolate whorl section.
  • …and 19 upon the penultimate whorl.
  • The body whorl is short, and not perforated…

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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