whir

[US]/wɜː/
[UK]/hwə/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

vi. make a whirring sound, fly with a whirring sound
n. a whirring sound
vt. cause to make a whirring sound, make something fly with a whirring sound

Phrases & Collocations

whirring sound

whirring motor

Example Sentences

The machine began to whir as it powered up.

The helicopter blades whirred loudly above us.

I could hear the whir of the fan in the background.

The drone's propellers whirred as it flew overhead.

The whir of the sewing machine filled the room.

The computer's cooling fan began to whir after a long period of use.

As the wind picked up, the leaves began to whir around in the air.

The electric mixer whirred as it mixed the ingredients for the cake.

The blender whirred loudly as it pureed the fruits.

The air conditioner's compressor whirred to life on a hot summer day.

Real-world Examples

No Fawkes the phoenix - no whirring silver contraptions.

Source: 2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Large fans whirred to try to cool the room.

Source: Newsweek

The whir of the automatic window unrolling made me turn.

Source: Twilight: Eclipse

The blades whir to a halt, and some people step out.

Source: Science in 60 Seconds - Scientific American September 2023 Compilation

The delicate silver instruments stood again upon the spindle-legged tables, puffing and whirring serenely.

Source: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

She makes tiny whirring sounds with her lips to irritate her husband.

Source: A man named Ove decides to die.

And then for several hours the recorder whirred silently on, recording nothing.

Source: 007 Series: Diamonds Are Forever (Part 2)

Peter heard something new, a kind of whirring sound ... like an engine.

Source: Spider-Man: No Way Home

The greeting and reply were scarcely over when another quail whirred under the bush, and another, and still another.

Source: American Elementary School English 6

Instead of the buzz of conversation, there's the whirring noise of the robot.

Source: CNN Listening Collection August 2022

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