swirl

 
Pronunciation: /swəːl/

verb

[no object]
  • move in a twisting or spiralling pattern: the smoke was swirling around him (as adjective swirling) figurative a flood of swirling emotions
  • [with object] cause to move in such a pattern: swirl a little cream into the soup

noun

  • a quantity of something moving in a twisting or spiralling pattern: swirls of dust swept across the floor
  • a twisting or spiralling movement or pattern: she emerged with a swirl of skirts swirls of colour

Origin:

late Middle English (originally Scots in the sense 'whirlpool'): perhaps of Low German or Dutch origin; compare with Dutch zwirrelen 'to whirl'