1. (

• gyration ,
• whirling

) the act of rotating in a circle or spiral ;

1. (

• twirl ,
• swirl ,
• twiddle ,
• whirl ,

) turn in a twisting or spinning motion; "The leaves swirled in the autumn wind" ;

2. (

• whirl ,
• birl ,
• spin ,
• twirl ,

) cause to spin; "spin a coin" ;

3. (

• eddy ,
• purl ,
• whirlpool ,
• swirl ,
• whirl

) flow in a circular current, of liquids ;

4. (

• spin ,
• spin_around ,
• whirl ,
• reel ,
• gyrate ,

) revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis; "The dervishes whirl around and around without getting dizzy" ;

5. (

• whirl ,
• tumble ,
• whirl_around

) fly around; "The clothes tumbled in the dryer"; "rising smoke whirled in the air" ;