whorl

CEFRC2

/(h)wɔː(ɹ)l/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A circular or spiral pattern of lines or hair.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A circle of three or more leaves, flowers, or other organs, about the same part or joint of a stem.

Examples

  • An interesting fact is how only 10% of people have an anticlockwise hair whorl.

  • Can you stop standing behind me and looking at my hair whorl?

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A volution, or turn, of the spire of a univalve shell.

  2. Each circle, volution or equivalent in a pattern of concentric circles, ovals, arcs, or a spiral.

  3. Any volution, as for example in the human ear or fingerprint.

More examples

In context

  • “Waves Against the Sand,” to music by Martinu, which opened the program, filled the stage space with whorling patterns of dancers surging with the gentle but ceaseless momentum of the sea.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The fingerprint expert identified the suspect by the unique blank in his thumbprint.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From alteration of whirl (verb).