flurry
/ˈflʌri
/noun (plural flurries)
1A small swirling mass of something, especially snow or leaves, moved by sudden gusts of wind: a flurry of snow...
- Today the forecast was for a cold north-westerly wind with the odd flurry of snow.
- Lomas was back in action yesterday, captaining a fairly young side after a raft of withdrawals through injury, and the flurries of snow that swirled through the stadium didn't make it any easier.
- The tram docks, and you fight your way out into what is often a maelstrom of strong winds and snow flurries.
Synonyms
swirl, whirl, eddy, billow, shower, gust, rush, burst, gale, squall, storm
1.1A sudden short period of activity or excitement: there was a brief flurry of activity in the hall...
- Some 50,000 tons are landed in a few short weeks, a flurry of activity which in itself is enough to keep the island economy afloat.
- This period also saw a flurry of construction activities in Bangalore.
- There's been a sudden flurry of activity related to the Northern Bank heist.
Synonyms
burst, outbreak, spurt, fit, spell, bout, rash, blaze, eruption
informal spot
fluster, fuss, bustle, whirl, stir, ferment, hubbub, commotion, hustle, tumult;
agitation, disturbance, furore, perturbation, state of anxiety, panic
informal to-do, flap
archaic pother
1.2A number of things arriving or happening suddenly and during the same period: a flurry of editorials hostile to the government...
- A flurry of e-mails arrived back in America recounting his adventures and studies, but when he got back to the USA in 1999, he seemed changed.
- I am suddenly receiving a flurry of e-mails asking me to clarify what was done, who did it, etc.
- She arrived in a flurry of Chanel bags, Manolo Blahniks and duty-free perfume.
Synonyms
spate, wave, flood, deluge, torrent, stream, tide, avalanche, storm, shower, cascade;
series, succession, string;
barrage, volley, battery;
outbreak, rash, explosion, run, rush
verb (flurries, flurrying, flurried) [no object, with adverbial of direction]
1(Especially of snow or leaves) be moved in small swirling masses by sudden gusts of wind: gusts of snow flurried through the door...
- The wind increased and Joe and the carpet were rising, swaying on currents of air as snow flurried around them.
- The gardens were desolated and barren, and white snow flurried out of the air from incoming clouds, frosting everything it touched.
- Outside, snow flurried through light seeping through the window: silent static beyond the glass.
Synonyms
swirl, whirl, eddy, billow, gust, blast, blow, rush, wind, churn, swish, spin, twist, spurt, surge, seethe, stream, flow, puff, squall, squirt, boil
1.1(Of a person) move quickly in a busy or agitated way: the waiter flurried between them...
- In the last 30 seconds, he would flurry in an attempt to steal close rounds.
- The actors flurry about backstage, hissing, thumping and gesticulating wildly between cues.
- In a flurry of bright patterns, flashy materials, and skimpy outfits, several girls flurried into the room, all clicking away on high heels and giggling shrilly.
Origin
Late 17th century: from obsolete flurr 'fly up, flutter, whirr' (imitative), probably influenced by hurry.