whir

/wɜː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /wɜːr/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈ(h)wər How to pronounce whir (audio)/ (ame, mw)

whir — 動詞

  • whirpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • whirshe / she / it
  • whirredpast simple
  • whirring-ing form
  • whirrs3rd person singular

1. the form of the word used in American English; the British English equivalent is

1.動詞
釋義

拼字變體

whirr 的美式寫法

the form of the word used in American English; the British English equivalent is spelled w-h-i-r-r.

例句

The American manual says 'the fan will whir quietly,' while the British edition uses the spelling 'whirr'.

美國版說明書寫著 'the fan will whir quietly'，而英國版則採用 whirr 的拼法。

variant spelling: whir vs whirr

In US English you write 'whir,' but in UK English the more common spelling is 'whirr' with two r's.

美式英語寫作 whir，而英式英語較常見的拼法是 whirr，後面有兩個 r。

用法筆記

The inflected forms whirred and whirring are the same in both American and British English. The choice between whir and whirr is a matter of regional spelling preference, not a difference in meaning.

2. when a machine, fan, motor, or other device produces a steady, low-pitched sound

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

嗡嗡作響

機器快速運轉發出低沉連續聲

when a machine, fan, motor, or other device produces a steady, low-pitched sound because its parts are turning or moving quickly; also used when something like a bird, insect, or vehicle moves very fast and makes this sound.

例句

The computer fan whirred softly as Daichi edited the video file.

Daichi 在編輯影片檔案時，電腦風扇輕輕地嗡嗡作響。

whirred + adverb of manner (softly)

Sivan's sewing machine whirred steadily while she made the curtains.

Sivan 的縫紉機在她製作窗簾時穩定地嗡嗡作響。

同義詞
  • buzz

    suggests a higher-pitched, more insect-like sound than whir

  • hum

    implies a deeper, more musical sound, often from electrical equipment

  • drone

    describes a monotonous, continuous low sound that goes on for a long time

文法句型

whir + adverb (softly / loudly / steadily)

whir + prepositional phrase (overhead / past / through)

用法筆記

When used intransitively, the subject is typically a machine or moving object (fan, motor, engine, drone). The transitive use ('she whirred the blender') is less common but acceptable in everyday speech. This sense is frequently used with adverbs describing the quality of the sound: softly, loudly, steadily, quietly.

常見錯誤

❌The engine whirred a strange noise.
✅The engine whirred noisily.
💡whir already describes the sound; you do not need to add 'a noise' as an object.
❌She whirred the machine to start.
✅She turned on the machine and it whirred to life.
💡whir describes the sound, not the action of starting.

whir — 名詞