Word · CEFR C2 · Frequency #14449
whirlwind
旋风
a column of air that spins around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth
- 1.
A windstorm of limited extent, such as a tornado, dust devil, or waterspout, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air.
旋风；气流向内旋转、中心有上升气流的风暴,如龙卷风、尘卷风或水龙卷
- 2.
a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth
在地球表面移动时自旋的垂直气柱
- 3.
A person or body of objects or events sweeping violently onward.
猛烈向前推进的人或事物(或事件)的集合。
旋风；气流向内旋转、中心有上升气流的风暴,如龙卷风、尘卷风或水龙卷；在地球表面移动时自旋的垂直气柱；猛烈向前推进的人或事物(或事件)的集合。
In use
The whirlwind swept across the plain, tearing roofs off barns.
We watched the whirlwind spin dust and leaves into the air.
A sudden whirlwind overturned the market stalls.
a whirlwind of [noun]
用 of 说明旋风卷起或裹挟的事物；这里指具体的气流现象。
A whirlwind of leaves spun across the yard.
一阵卷着树叶的旋风旋转着掠过院子。
the whirlwind + [verb]
特指某一旋风时用 the，作主语时谓语动词用单数。
The whirlwind struck the village and damaged several roofs.
那阵旋风袭击了村庄，毁坏了几处屋顶。
whirlwinds + [verb]
复数形式不加冠词，表示一般现象或泛指。
Connections
Collocations
- a whirlwind of dust
- 一股卷着尘土的旋风
- A whirlwind of dust spun across the empty parking lot.一股卷着尘土的旋风在空荡荡的停车场旋转而过。
- a whirlwind sweeps through
- 旋风席卷
- A whirlwind swept through the valley, leaving broken trees in its wake.一阵旋风席卷了山谷，经过之处树木折断。
- a whirlwind strikes
- 旋风袭击
- A whirlwind struck the campsite without any warning.一阵旋风毫无预兆地袭击了露营地。
- be caught in a whirlwind
- 被旋风卷住
- The hikers were caught in a whirlwind and had to take shelter.徒步旅行者被旋风卷住，不得不寻找躲避处。
Idioms & figurative uses
- a whirlwind tour
- 旋风式访问；走马观花的旅程The candidates went on a whirlwind tour of three states in one day.
Learner notes
Memory Tip
把 whirl 想成“旋转”，wind 是“风”：旋转的风卷成一股，就是 whirlwind（旋风）。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：weather reports、news reports whirlwind 作名词指旋风，为中性词，通常用于天气报道或新闻描述中。日常口语里不如 tornado 常见，但意思明确。
Pronunciation & Spelling
whirlwind 中，whirl- 为主重音，读 /ˈwɝl/，与 whirl、whorl 同音，与 swirl 押韵；-wind 为次重音，读 /ˌwɪnd/，与名词 wind（风）以及 windmill 中的 wind 相同。注意：动词 wind 拼写相同但读 /waɪnd/，切勿混淆。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY.