Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Making a continuous, low, vibrating, or buzzing sound: Describes something that produces a sound like that of rapid mechanical movement or vibration.

2. Noun:

   • A continuous, low, vibrating, or buzzing sound: The sound produced by something moving or operating very quickly.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The whirring fan provided background noise in the quiet room.
  • We could hear the whirring mechanism inside the old clock.

• Noun:

  • The steady whirring of the computer's hard drive was the only sound.
  • The whirring of the helicopter's blades grew louder as it approached.

Advanced Usage

• "with a whirring sound": Used to describe an action accompanied by this specific noise.
  • The machine started up with a whirring sound.
• The adjective form is often used to create a vivid auditory image in descriptive writing.

Variants and Related Words

• Whir (verb, noun): The base form. (e.g., The gears began to . The of the engine.)
• Whirred (verb, past tense): (e.g., The camera as it took the picture.)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Buzzing, humming, droning, purring.
• Noun: Buzz, hum, drone, purr.

Related Idioms or Phrases

• While not a standalone idiom, "whirring into action" is a common collocation describing something starting up or beginning to operate quickly and with a characteristic sound.
  • Upon hearing the alarm, the entire factory whirred into action.

Adjective

1. like the sound of rapidly vibrating wings

Noun

1. sound of something in rapid motion
   • whir of a bird's wings
   • the whir of the propellers