[syn: whizz, whiz, whirr, whir, birr, purr]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Whir \Whir\, v. t. [See Whir to whiz.]
To hurry a long with a whizzing sound. [R.]
[1913 Webster]
This world to me is like a lasting storm,
Whirring me from my friends. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Whir \Whir\, n.
A buzzing or whizzing sound produced by rapid or whirling
motion; as, the whir of a partridge; the whir of a spinning
wheel.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Whir \Whir\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Whirred; p. pr. & vb. n.
Whirring.] [Perhaps of imitative origin; cf. D. hvirre to
whirl, and E. hurr, hurry, whirl. ???.]
To whirl round, or revolve, with a whizzing noise; to fly or
more quickly with a buzzing or whizzing sound; to whiz.
[1913 Webster]
The partridge bursts away on whirring wings. --Beattie.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
whir
n 1: sound of something in rapid motion; "whir of a bird's
wings"; "the whir of the propellers" [syn: whir, whirr,
whirring, birr]
v 1: make a soft swishing sound; "the motor whirred"; "the car
engine purred" [syn: whizz, whiz, whirr, whir,
birr, purr]