swirl
swirl — verb
1. to move in a twisting circular pattern, like water going down a drain, or to cau
to move in a twisting circular pattern, like water going down a drain, or to cause something to move in this way. For example, autumn leaves swirl in the wind before settling on the ground, or a chef swirls cream into a soup to create a pattern.
The autumn leaves swirled in the wind before landing on the wet pavement.
intransitive: subject + swirl + adverbial of place
Élise swirled the cream gently into her tomato soup to make a pattern.
transitive: person swirls [food/liquid] into [something]
Dust swirled through the old library when Hao opened the heavy curtains.
Yan watched the water swirl down the bathtub drain after his shower.
Ignacio swirled the wine in his glass before taking a sip.
文法句型
swirl (intransitive): leaves/dust/water + swirl
swirl + object: wind/person + swirls + object
用法筆記
Frequently used with directional phrases (swirl around, swirl down, swirl through). The transitive pattern usually involves a liquid, food, or airborne substance as the object.
常見錯誤
2. when rumors, stories, or ideas are repeated by many people in a community withou
when rumors, stories, or ideas are repeated by many people in a community without anyone being sure of the facts. For instance, rumors swirl around a company before it announces job cuts, or conflicting accounts swirl about a celebrity's private life.
Rumors have been swirling around the office about who will be the next manager.
rumors + swirl + around [place/topic]
Various stories swirled about the candidate's past, but nothing was proven.
stories/ideas + swirl + about [topic]
Questions swirled among the fans when the singer cancelled her tour suddenly.
Conflicting accounts swirled around the accident for weeks after the news broke.
- circulate
more neutral and factual; does not carry the same sense of confusion or speed
- fly around
more informal; suggests rapid, uncontrolled spread
- spread
general term; lacks the chaotic, circular feeling of 'swirl'
文法句型
rumors/stories/ideas + swirl + around/about + topic
用法筆記
Almost always in continuous or perfect-continuous tenses (is swirling, have been swirling). The subject is usually a plural noun (rumors, stories, questions, accounts).
常見錯誤
swirl — noun
1. a circular twisting movement, or a moving mass of something (such as water, air,
a circular twisting movement, or a moving mass of something (such as water, air, or colour) that moves in a twisting pattern. For example, a swirl of cream in coffee, or a swirl of dust raised by a passing truck.
A swirl of dust rose behind the truck as it drove down the dirt road.
a swirl of [substance] + verb of motion
Tara added a swirl of honey to her tea and stirred it slowly.
The swirl of water around Felix's legs made it hard to stand still.
Yara watched the slow swirl of cream spreading through her black coffee.
Lakshmi noticed a swirl of colourful fabric as the dancers spun across the stage.
文法句型
a swirl of [something] — describes the motion or the moving thing
用法筆記
Usually singular and preceded by 'a' or 'the'. Often combined with 'of' to name the substance that is moving: a swirl of dust, a swirl of smoke.
常見錯誤
2. a twisting, spiral-shaped mark or pattern that curves around itself, such as the
a twisting, spiral-shaped mark or pattern that curves around itself, such as the pattern on a seashell, the grain of wood, or a decorative design in art or calligraphy.
The wooden table had beautiful swirls in the grain that caught the light.
countable plural: swirls in wood grain
Cole painted blue swirls across the canvas to represent ocean waves.
Each seashell on the beach showed a tight swirl at its centre.
The design on the old ceramic vase featured gold swirls and red flowers.
Erik carved delicate swirls into the handle of the wooden spoon he was making.
文法句型
a swirl — a spiral or twisted pattern or mark
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 focuses on motion (a swirl happening), while sense 2 focuses on the static pattern or shape (a swirl you see on a surface).
3. a confused or excited situation in which many rumors, stories, or ideas are bein
a confused or excited situation in which many rumors, stories, or ideas are being spread at the same time, creating uncertainty and gossip. Often used for media speculation or workplace gossip.
A swirl of speculation followed the politician's sudden resignation from office.
a swirl of [rumor-noun] + followed/erupted/surrounded
The company faced a swirl of accusations after the product was found to be unsafe.
Sirin tried to ignore the swirl of gossip that surrounded the celebrity wedding.
Out of the swirl of conflicting reports, one clear fact finally emerged weeks later.
文法句型
a swirl of + plural noun (rumors/gossip/accusations)
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' with a plural noun referring to speech or information (rumors, accusations, reports, speculation). This sense is less common than the physical senses and appears mostly in news or narrative contexts.