different between sudden vs whirlwind

English

Etymology

From Middle English sodeyn, sodain, from Anglo-Norman sodein, from Old French sodain, subdain (“immediate, sudden”), from Vulgar Latin *subit?nus (“sudden”), from Latin subit?neus (“sudden”), from subitus (“sudden", literally, "that which has come stealthily”), originally the past participle of sub?re (“to come or go stealthily”), from sub (“under”) + ?re (“go”). Doublet of subitaneous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?s?d?n/, [?s?dn?]
• Rhymes: -?d?n
• Hyphenation: sud?den

Adjective

sudden (comparative more sudden, superlative most sudden)

1. Happening quickly and with little or no warning.

2. (obsolete) Hastily prepared or employed; quick; rapid.
3. (obsolete) Hasty; violent; rash; precipitate.

Synonyms

• (happening quickly): abrupt, precipitous, subitaneous; see also Thesaurus:sudden
• (hasty, rash): hotheaded, impetuous, impulsive; see also Thesaurus:reckless

Antonyms

• (happening quickly): gradual; see also Thesaurus:gradual
• (all): unsudden

Derived terms

Translations

Adverb

sudden (comparative more sudden, superlative most sudden)

1. (poetic) Suddenly.

Noun

sudden (plural suddens)

1. (obsolete) An unexpected occurrence; a surprise.

Derived terms

• all of a sudden
• all of the sudden
• of a sudden
• on a sudden
• upon a sudden

Translations

Further reading

• sudden in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• sudden in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• sudden at OneLook Dictionary Search

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.