whorl

/wɜːl/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɚl] /wɜːrl/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɚl] /ˈ(h)wȯr(-ə)l How to pronounce whorl (audio) ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l How to pronounce whorl (audio)/ (ame, mw)

whorl — noun

  • whorlsingular
  • whorlsplural

1. a rounded design of rings or curved lines spreading out from a centre.

1.名詞C1
釋義

a rounded design of rings or curved lines spreading out from a centre.

例句

Meera traced a silver whorl in the frost on the window.

pattern on a surface: trace a whorl

Pim noticed a dark whorl at the center of the marble tile.

同義詞
  • spiral

    more geometric and often suggests one line winding outward

  • swirl

    more general and often connected with motion as well as pattern

  • ring

    simpler word that does not suggest repeated curved detail

文法句型

a whorl in/on + surface

a whorl around + centre/object

用法筆記

Usually names a visible pattern on a flat or solid surface. Distinguish from sense 2, which is a coiled thing or moving curl rather than a repeated ring design.

常見錯誤

❌The cook added a whorl on the cake.
✅The cook added a whorl of cream on the cake.
💡a decorative shape made from a substance is usually sense 2 with 'of'.
❌The plant grew in a whorl on the stem.
✅The plant had a whorl of leaves on the stem.
💡for living parts around a stem, use the plant sense in sense 3.

2. a thing or shape curled into a spiral or looping circle, such as cream, rope, ri

2.名詞C1
釋義

a thing or shape curled into a spiral or looping circle, such as cream, rope, ribbon, or smoke.

例句

Daichi piped a whorl of cream onto the warm apple tart.

a whorl of + soft material

Tendai laid the garden hose in a neat whorl beside the shed.

arranged in a visible coil

同義詞
  • coil

    emphasizes the looped shape more than the decorative look

  • spiral

    more neutral geometric term for a winding shape

  • curl

    usually smaller and softer in shape

文法句型

a whorl of + cream/smoke/ribbon/rope

in a whorl

用法筆記

Often follows 'of' when the noun names a soft substance or moving material. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses on a flat ringed pattern, and from sense 3, which is a botanical arrangement.

常見錯誤

❌The floor had a whorl of stone.
✅The floor had a whorl pattern in the stone.
💡a flat design belongs to sense 1, not this coiled-object sense.
❌The stem showed a whorl of flowers' (when discussing plant structure).
✅The stem had a whorl of flowers around one point.
💡plant anatomy belongs to sense 3.

3. a set of leaves, petals, or similar parts arranged in one circle from the same p

3.名詞C1
釋義

a set of leaves, petals, or similar parts arranged in one circle from the same point on a stem or centre.

例句

Salma counted one whorl of leaves below the purple flower.

a whorl of leaves around the stem

Talia sketched the whorl of petals around the lily's center.

同義詞
  • ring

    general word that does not specifically suggest plant structure

  • circle

    describes the shape but not the botanical arrangement

  • rosette

    a leaf cluster at the base of a plant, not any ring on a stem

文法句型

a whorl of leaves/petals/spines

in a whorl around + stem/centre

用法筆記

Mostly used in botany and anatomy, especially with 'of leaves', 'of petals', or similar repeated parts. Distinguish from sense 2, which refers to a coiled object or visible curl.

常見錯誤

❌A whorl of branches grew everywhere on the tree.
✅A ring of branches grew around the tree trunk.
💡'whorl' is for parts arranged from the same point, not any scattered growth.
❌The cake had a whorl of icing.
✅The cake had a whorl of icing on top.
💡food decoration is sense 2, not the plant sense.