whorl.

1. A circular arrangement of parts around a center, or one complete spiral turn around an axis.

2. A single coil or curved turn that circles around a point or axis.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• a whorl of leaves
• a fingerprint whorl
• a whorl of smoke
• a hair whorl
• a spiral whorl

On the page

A whorl of smoke tightened above the candle and vanished.

One whorl of pale mist curled around the statue’s broken hand.

Usage notes

The structural sense appears in botany and anatomy; “whorl” names an arrangement or turn, while “whirl” usually names motion. Sense 2: Use for a visible coil or circular turn; it is not interchangeable with a whirlpool.