Library / English Dictionary

WHORL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops

Example:

a coil of rope

Synonyms:

coil; helix; spiral; volute; whorl

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("whorl" is a kind of...):

construction; structure (a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "whorl"):

hank (a coil of rope or wool or yarn)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A strand or cluster of hair

Synonyms:

curl; lock; ringlet; whorl

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("whorl" is a kind of...):

hair (a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "whorl"):

sausage curl (a fat sausage-shaped curl)

forelock (a lock of hair growing (or falling) over the forehead)

crimp (a lock of hair that has been artificially waved or curled)

dreadlock (one of many long thin braids of hair radiating from the scalp; popularized by Rastafarians)

Holonyms ("whorl" is a part of...):

coif; coiffure; hair style; hairdo; hairstyle (the arrangement of the hair (especially a woman's hair))

Sense 3

Meaning:

A round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals)

Synonyms:

coil; curl; curlicue; gyre; ringlet; roll; scroll; whorl

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("whorl" is a kind of...):

round shape (a shape that is curved and without sharp angles)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "whorl"):

corolla ((botany) the whorl of petals of a flower that collectively form an inner floral envelope or layer of the perianth)

calyx ((botany) the whorl of sepals of a flower collectively forming the outer floral envelope or layer of the perianth enclosing and supporting the developing bud; usually green)

verticil (a whorl of leaves growing around a stem)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Present simple (first person singular and plural, second person singular and plural, third person plural) of the verb whorl

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