Definition: swirl

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

swirl
     n : the shape of something rotating rapidly [syn: whirl, vortex,
          convolution]
     v 1: turn in a twisting or spinning motion; "The leaves swirled
          in the autumn wind" [syn: twirl, twiddle, whirl]
     2: flow in a circular current, of liquids [syn: eddy, purl,
         whirlpool, whirl]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Swirl \Swirl\, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Swirled; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Swirling.] [Akin to Norw. svirla to whirl, freq. of
   sverra to whirl, Dan. svirre, G. schwirren to whiz, to buzz.
   [root]177. See Swarm, n.]
   To whirl, or cause to whirl, as in an eddy. ``The river
   swirled along.'' --C. Kingsley.
Swirl \Swirl\, n.
   A whirling motion; an eddy, as of water; a whirl. ``The
   silent swirl of bats.'' --Mrs. Browning.