Word Meanings - WHIRLWIND - Book Publishers vocabulary database

1. A violent windstorm of limited extent, as the tornado, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air. It usually has a rapid progressive motion. The swift dark whirlwind that uproots

Additional info about word: WHIRLWIND

1. A violent windstorm of limited extent, as the tornado, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air. It usually has a rapid progressive motion. The swift dark whirlwind that uproots the woods. And drowns the villages. Bryant. Note: Some meteorologists apply the word whirlwind to the larger rotary storm also, such as cyclones. 2. Fig.: A body of objects sweeping violently onward. "The whirlwind of hounds and hunters." Macaulay.

Related words: (words related to WHIRLWIND)

• VORTEX THEORY
  The theory, advanced by Thomson on the basis of investigation by Helmholtz, that the atoms are vortically moving ring-shaped masses (or masses of other forms having a similar internal motion) of a homogeneous, incompressible, frictionless fluid.
• LIMITARIAN
  Tending to limit.
• LIMITIVE
  Involving a limit; as, a limitive law, one designed to limit existing powers.
• WHIRLWIND
  1. A violent windstorm of limited extent, as the tornado, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air. It usually has a rapid progressive motion. The swift dark whirlwind that uproots
• RAPID
  1. Very swift or quick; moving with celerity; fast; as, a rapid stream; a rapid flight; a rapid motion. Ascend my chariot; guide the rapid wheels. Milton. 2. Advancing with haste or speed; speedy in progression; in quick sequence; as, rapid growth;
• MOTIONER
  One who makes a motion; a mover. Udall.
• MOTIONIST
  A mover.
• LIMITABLE
  Capable of being limited.
• TORNADO
  A violent whirling wind; specifically , a tempest distinguished by a rapid whirling and slow progressive motion, usually accompaned with severe thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain, and commonly of short duration and small breadth; a small
• SPIRAL
  Of or pertaining to a spiral; like a spiral. Spiral gear, or Spiral wheel , a gear resembling in general a spur gear, but having its teeth cut at an angle with its axis, or so that they form small portions of screws or spirals. -- Spiral gearing,
• RAPIDNESS
  Quality of being rapid; rapidity.
• INWARD; INWARDS
  1. Toward the inside; toward the center or interior; as, to bend a thing inward. 2. Into, or toward, the mind or thoughts; inwardly; as, to turn the attention inward. So much the rather, thou Celestial Light, Shine inward. Milton.
• SPIRALITY
  The quality or states of being spiral.
• SWIFTNESS
  The quality or state of being swift; speed; quickness; celerity; velocity; rapidity; as, the swiftness of a bird; the swiftness of a stream; swiftness of descent in a falling body; swiftness of thought, etc.
• SWIFTLET
  Any one of numerous species of small East Indian and Asiatic swifts of the genus Collocalia. Some of the species are noted for furnishing the edible bird's nest. See Illust. under Edible.
• VIOLENT
  probably akin to Gr. 1. Moving or acting with physical strength; urged or impelled with force; excited by strong feeling or passion; forcible; vehement; impetuous; fierce; furious; severe; as, a violent blow; the violent attack of a disease. Float
• RAPIDITY
  The quality or state of being rapid; swiftness; celerity; velocity; as, the rapidity of growth or improvement. Syn. -- -- Rapidness; haste; speed; celerity; velocity; swiftness; fleetness; quickness; agility.
• CENTERING
  See 6
• SWIFTER
  A rope used to retain the bars of the capstan in their sockets while men are turning it. A rope used to encircle a boat longitudinally, to strengthen and defend her sides. The forward shroud of a lower mast.
• LIMITARY
  1. Placed at the limit, as a guard. "Proud limitary cherub." Milton. 2. Confined within limits; limited in extent, authority, power, etc. "The limitary ocean." Trench. The poor, limitary creature calling himself a man of the world. De Quincey.
• CONCENTER; CONCENTRE
  To come to one point; to meet in, or converge toward, a common center; to have a common center. God, in whom all perfections concenter. Bp. Beveridge.
• DIRECT CURRENT
  A current flowing in one direction only; -- distinguished from alternating current. When steady and not pulsating a direct current is often called a continuous current. A direct induced current, or momentary current of the same direction as the
• EXCITO-MOTION
  Motion excited by reflex nerves. See Excito-motory.
• UNLIMITED
  1. Not limited; having no bounds; boundless; as, an unlimited expanse of ocean. 2. Undefined; indefinite; not bounded by proper exceptions; as, unlimited terms. "Nothing doth more prevail than unlimited generalities." Hooker. 3. Unconfined; not
• JAPAN CURRENT
  A branch of the equatorial current of the Pacific, washing the eastern coast of Formosa and thence flowing northeastward past Japan and merging into the easterly drift of the North Pacific; -- called also Kuro-Siwo, or Black Stream, in allusion
• PHASING CURRENT
  The momentary current between two alternating-current generators when juxtaposed in parallel and not agreeing exactly in phase or period.
• ALTERNATING CURRENT
  A current which periodically changes or reverses its direction of flow.
• MUSCULOSPIRAL
  Of or pertaining to the muscles, and taking a spiral course; -- applied esp. to a large nerve of the arm.
• NERVIMOTION
  The movement caused in the sensory organs by external agents and transmitted to the muscles by the nerves. Dunglison.
• PERCURRENT
  Running through the entire length.