different between swirl vs unswirl

English

Etymology

From Middle English swirlen (“to eddy; swirl”). Cognate with Norwegian svirla (“to whirl around; swirl”). Compare also Swedish svirra, Danish svirre, German schwirren.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /sw??l/?
• (US) IPA^(key): /sw?rl/
• Rhymes: -??(?)l

Verb

swirl (third-person singular simple present swirls, present participle swirling, simple past and past participle swirled)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To twist or whirl, as an eddy.

   I swirled my brush around in the paint.

   • 1857, Charles Kingsley, Two Years Ago

     The river swirled along.
2. To be arranged in a twist, spiral or whorl.
3. (figuratively) To circulate.
   • 2013 May 23, Sarah Lyall, "British Leader’s Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Party," New York Times (retrieved 29 May 2013):

     Mr. Cameron had a respite Thursday from the negative chatter swirling around him when he appeared outside 10 Downing Street to denounce the murder a day before of a British soldier on a London street.

Derived terms

• swirler

Translations

Noun

swirl (plural swirls)

1. A whirling eddy.
2. A twist or coil of something.
3. (fishing) The upward rushing of a fish through the water to take the bait.

Derived terms

• preswirl
• swirly

Translations

English

Etymology

un- +? swirl

Verb

unswirl (third-person singular simple present unswirls, present participle unswirling, simple past and past participle unswirled)

1. (transitive) To resolve or restraighten (something previously swirled).
   • 2002, Cecil M. Colwin, Breakthrough Swimming

     The overlapping arm action of the crawl stroke allows a swimmer to feel the oncoming flow of water advance along the entry arm at the same time as the opposite arm is unswirling the flow from the hand and forearm at the finish of its stroke.