Whir
verb
To move quickly making a low, continuous sound.
The ceiling fan began to whir loudly.
Often appears as...
- whir of the motor
- whir of the fan
noun
A continuous low sound made by moving parts of a machine.
There was a sudden whir of the camera.
Often appears as...
- whir of machines
- whir of engine
verb
To move quickly making a low, continuous sound.
The ceiling fan began to whir loudly.
Often appears as...
- whir of the motor
- whir of the fan
noun
A continuous low sound made by moving parts of a machine.
There was a sudden whir of the camera.
Often appears as...
- whir of machines
- whir of engine
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Machinery Motion
Use 'whir' when describing machines or parts like fans or engines moving.
I listened to the whir of the drill in the construction site.
Pro Tip 2/3Speed Implication
'Whir' suggests rapid movement, often used for objects spinning or working quickly.
The wheels began to whir as the bicycle picked up speed.
Pro Tip 3/3Low Sound
The sound described by 'whir' is low and continuous, not loud or sharp.
As the computer started, a gentle whir came from its case.
Pro Tip 1/3Machinery Motion
Use 'whir' when describing machines or parts like fans or engines moving.
I listened to the whir of the drill in the construction site.
Pro Tip 2/3Speed Implication
'Whir' suggests rapid movement, often used for objects spinning or working quickly.
The wheels began to whir as the bicycle picked up speed.
Pro Tip 3/3Low Sound
The sound described by 'whir' is low and continuous, not loud or sharp.
As the computer started, a gentle whir came from its case.
Pro Tip 1/3Machinery Motion
Use 'whir' when describing machines or parts like fans or engines moving.
I listened to the whir of the drill in the construction site.
Pro Tip 2/3Speed Implication
'Whir' suggests rapid movement, often used for objects spinning or working quickly.
The wheels began to whir as the bicycle picked up speed.
Pro Tip 3/3Low Sound
The sound described by 'whir' is low and continuous, not loud or sharp.
As the computer started, a gentle whir came from its case.
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Video examples
What the discovery of...
If the two black holes are non-spinning, you get a very simple whoop! If the two bodies are spinning very rapidly, I have that same chirp, but with a modulation on top of it, so it kind of whir, whir, whir! It's sort of the vocabulary of spin imprinted on this waveform.
Video examples
Mars Gets Ready for Its...
those crunchy noises they are the sounds recorded by a microphone aboard perseverance picking up the whir of the rover's thermal system as it hurtles through deep space
Video examples
What the discovery of...
If the two black holes are non-spinning, you get a very simple whoop! If the two bodies are spinning very rapidly, I have that same chirp, but with a modulation on top of it, so it kind of whir, whir, whir! It's sort of the vocabulary of spin imprinted on this waveform.
Video examples
Mars Gets Ready for Its...
those crunchy noises they are the sounds recorded by a microphone aboard perseverance picking up the whir of the rover's thermal system as it hurtles through deep space
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Caroline Knapp
American Writer
There is a particular whir of agitation about female hunger, a low-level thrumming of shoulds and shouldn'ts and can'ts and wants that can be so chronic and familiar it becomes a kind of feminine Muzak, easy to dismiss, or to tune out altogether, even if you're actively participating in it.
Quote examples
Caroline Knapp
American Writer
There is a particular whir of agitation about female hunger, a low-level thrumming of shoulds and shouldn'ts and can'ts and wants that can be so chronic and familiar it becomes a kind of feminine Muzak, easy to dismiss, or to tune out altogether, even if you're actively participating in it.
Example 1 of 1
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