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whirring

whirring

3.7
Making a soft continuous buzzing sound like a fan or fast wings
  • adjective
  • /ˈwɜːrɪŋ/
translation icon : zumbador
  • I could hear the whirring sound of the blender in the kitchen.

Examples

  • As the helicopter took off, it created a whirring sound that filled the air.

  • The drone made a whirring noise as it hovered overhead.

  • It's a whirring metal sound, a warm bearing sound.

  • I have friendly beeps, whirring and wishing and whooping and VGA.

Synonyms

to whirr
vswhirring
16 6.7

To make a soft, steady buzzing sound often from things that move fast like fan blades

is more about soft rapid buzzing rather than slower low vibration
to whir
vswhirring
2 4.6

To make a soft, continuous sound by turning or moving fast

is focused on continuous soft rapid buzzing like vibrating wings or machinery

Antonyms

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

45 1.0

A calm time with little or no sound

How Loud

droning
8 6.5
buzzing
3.6
whirring
3.7
humming
5 2.7
murmuring
11 3.4
purr
14 1.0

Surface Forms

whirring positive

Morphology

whirring = whirr (transparent) = whirr + ing

A participial adjective formed from the verb 'whirr' describing something that produces the sound.

Etymology

Whirring comes from the sound word whir, which copies the quick, soft noise of something turning or moving fast. So, we call something whirring when it is 'making' that steady, low buzzing sound.