whir
/wəː
/(also whirr)
verb (whirs, whirring, whirred) [no object]
(Of something rapidly rotating or moving to and fro) make a low, continuous, regular sound: the ceiling fans whirred in the smoky air...
- This sound was the generator whirring to life once again.
- The sounds of machines whirring and bells ringing could be heard as far away as a city block.
- Next to me, Mr. Walker's camera whirred and clicked rapidly.
noun
A whirring sound: the whir of the projector...
- That is about the same level of noise produced by the whir of an air conditioner or the rumbling of average city traffic.
- The rip of gunfire sounded above the whir of the blades.
- The only sound was the soft whir of the ship around them.
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'move with a whirring sound'): probably of Scandinavian origin; compare with whirl.