Library / English Dictionary

WHIRR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sound of something in rapid motion

Example:

the whir of the propellers

Synonyms:

birr; whir; whirr; whirring

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

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

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

Derivation:

whirr (make a soft swishing sound)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make a vibrant sound, as of some birds

Synonyms:

churr; whirr

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "whirr" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make a soft swishing sound

Example:

the car engine purred

Synonyms:

birr; purr; whir; whirr; whiz; whizz

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "whirr" is one way to...):

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence examples:

Cars whirr in the streets

The streets whirr with cars

Derivation:

whirr (sound of something in rapid motion)

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