whorl

noun

ˈ(h)wȯr(-ə)l  ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l 

1

: a drum-shaped section on the lower part of a spindle in spinning or weaving machinery serving as a pulley for the tape drive that rotates the spindle

2

: an arrangement of similar anatomical parts (such as leaves) in a circle around a point on an axis

3

: something that whirls, coils, or spirals or whose form suggests such movement : swirl

whorls of snow

4

: one of the turns of a univalve shell

5

: a fingerprint in which the central papillary ridges turn through at least one complete circle

Examples of whorl in a Sentence

the whorls and eddies of the river

the whorl of a fingerprint

Recent Examples on the Web

The results: Twins had hair whorls that rotated in the same direction, indicating a strong genetic influence. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2024

Flowery details are sprouting from all sorts of handbags including 3D blossoms at Balmain and 3.1 Phillip Lim, oversized flower prints at Chanel, and whorls of fabrics and pearls shaped like rosettes at Simone Rocha. —Amanda Randone, refinery29.com, 9 July 2024

The squeaking fuzz balls had been deliberately bred, observed, and documented so that the young scientists could compare the patterns of their whorls and colorful splotches against Mendel’s math. —Rachel Lance, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024

How better to express all that than by slicing paper into handmade greeting cards, with whorls that can be pulled up to form gossamer cages for images of lovebirds, bouquets, engagement rings, or even rodents? —The New York Times, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wharle, whorle, probably alteration of whirle, from whirlen to whirl

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

whorl

noun

ˈhwȯr(-ə)l  ˈwȯr(-ə)l 

ˈhwər(-ə)l,

ˈwər(-ə)l

1

: a row of similar parts (as leaves or petals) in a circle around a point and especially a stem

2

: something that whirls or winds around a center

a whorl of smoke

3

: one of the turns of a shell (as of a snail) having just one valve

4

: a fingerprint in which the central ridges on the skin turn through at least one complete circle

Medical Definition

whorl

noun

ˈhwor(-ə)l  ˈwȯr(-ə)l 

ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l

: a fingerprint in which the central papillary ridges turn through at least one complete turn