different between headlong vs whirlwind

English

Etymology

From Middle English hedlong, alteration of hedling, heedling, hevedlynge (“headlong”), assimilated to long. More at headling.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?h?dl??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?h?dl??/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /?h?dl??/
• Rhymes: -?dl??
• Hyphenation: head?long

Adverb

headlong (not comparable)

1. With the head first or down.
2. With an unrestrained forward motion.

   Figures out today show the economy plunging headlong into recession.

3. Rashly; precipitately; without deliberation, in haste, hastily

Antonyms

• arselong (UK dialect)

Translations

Adjective

headlong (comparative more headlong, superlative most headlong)

1. Precipitous.
2. Plunging downwards head foremost.
3. Rushing forward without restraint.
4. (figuratively) Reckless, impetuous.
   • 1869, RD Blackmoore, Lorna Doone, II:

     “Time is up,” cried another boy, more headlong than head-monitor.

Derived terms

• headlongness
• headlongs

Translations

Verb

headlong (third-person singular simple present headlongs, present participle headlonging, simple past and past participle headlonged)

1. (transitive) To precipitate.

Anagrams

• Hogeland

English

Etymology

From Middle English whirlewind, whirlewynde, equivalent to whirl +? wind. Compare Middle Dutch wervelwint, Old Norse hvirfilvindr.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?(h)w??lw?nd/

Noun

whirlwind (plural whirlwinds)

1. A violent windstorm of limited extent, as the tornado, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air. It usually has a rapid progressive motion.
2. (figuratively) A person or body of objects or events sweeping violently onward.

   The weeks leading up to the convention were a whirlwind of preparation and hurried activity.

   Once he got that new scooter he turned into a whirlwind and damaged all the flowers.

Hyponyms

• tornado
• waterspout
• landspout
• fire whirl
• dust devil

Derived terms

• sow the wind, reap the whirlwind

Translations

Adjective

whirlwind (not comparable)

1. Rapid and minimal: a whirlwind tour, a whirlwind romance.
   • 2016, Nina Milne, Rafael's Contract Bride (page 60)

     So you aren't deserting the Caversham ship. They'll understand. After all, their courtship was pretty whirlwind itself.