3 ADJ [ADJ n] A whirlwind event or action happens or is done much more quickly than normal. □ He got married after a whirlwind romance. □ … a whirlwind tour of France.
whirr / h wɜː r / (whirrs , whirring , whirred ) also whir VERB When something such as a machine or an insect's wing whirrs , it makes a series of low sounds so quickly that they seem like one continuous sound. □ [V ] The camera whirred and clicked. □ [V -ing] …the whirring sound of the film projector. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Whirr is also a noun. □ [+ of ] He could hear the whirr of a vacuum cleaner.
whisk / h w I sk/ (whisks , whisking , whisked )
1 VERB If you whisk someone or something somewhere, you take them or move them there quickly. □ [V n prep/adv] He whisked her across the dance floor. □ [V n prep/adv] I was whisked away in a police car.
2 VERB If you whisk something such as eggs or cream, you stir it very fast, often with an electric device, so that it becomes full of small bubbles. □ [V n] Just before serving, whisk the cream. □ [V n with together ] In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining sugar and the yolks.
3 N‑COUNT A whisk is a kitchen tool used for whisking eggs or cream. □ …an electric whisk.
whisk|er / h w I skə r / (whiskers )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The whiskers of an animal such as a cat or a mouse are the long stiff hairs that grow near its mouth.
2 N‑PLURAL You can refer to the hair on a man's face, especially on the sides of his face, as his whiskers . □ …wild, savage-looking fellows, with large whiskers, unshaven beards, and dirty faces.
3 N‑SING You can use whisker in expressions such as by a whisker or within a whisker of to indicate that something happened or is true, but only by a very small amount or degree. □ A new pet census showed that cats now outnumber dogs by a whisker (7 million to 6.9 million). □ [+ of ] She came within a whisker of taking a gold medal. □ Unemployment is now a whisker away from three million.
whisk|ery / h w I skəri/ ADJ If you describe someone as whiskery , you mean that they have lots of stiff little hairs on their face. □ …a whiskery old man.
whis|key / h w I ski/ (whiskeys ) N‑VAR Whiskey is whisky that is made in Ireland or the United States. □ …a tumbler with about an inch of whiskey in it. ● N‑COUNT A whiskey is a glass of whiskey.
whis|ky / h w I ski/ (whiskies ) N‑VAR Whisky is a strong alcoholic drink made, especially in Scotland, from grain such as barley or rye. □ …a bottle of whisky. □ …expensive whiskies and brandies. ● N‑COUNT A whisky is a glass of whisky. □ She handed him a whisky. WORD HISTORY whisky
The word whisky comes from Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha , meaning 'water of life'.
whis|per ◆◇◇ / h w I spə r / (whispers , whispering , whispered )
1 VERB When you whisper , you say something very quietly, using your breath rather than your throat, so that only one person can hear you. □ [V with quote] 'Keep your voice down,' I whispered. □ [V prep] She sat on Rossi's knee as he whispered in her ear. □ [V n prep] He whispered the message to David. □ [V that] Somebody whispered that films like that were illegal. □ [V n] She whispered his name. ● N‑COUNT Whisper is also a noun. □ Men were talking in whispers in every office.
2 VERB If people whisper about a piece of information, they talk about it, although it might not be true or accurate, or might be a secret. □ [V + about ] We hit it off so well that everyone started whispering about us. □ [be V -ed that] It is whispered that he intended to resign. □ [V n] But don't whisper a word of that. ● N‑COUNT Whisper is also a noun. □ I've heard a whisper that the Bishop intends to leave.
whist / h w I st/ N‑UNCOUNT Whist is a card game in which people play in pairs against each other.
whis|tle / h w I s ə l/ (whistles , whistling , whistled )
1 VERB When you whistle or when you whistle a tune, you make a series of musical notes by forcing your breath out between your lips, or your teeth. □ [V ] He was whistling softly to himself. □ [V n] As he washed, he whistled a tune.
2 VERB When someone whistles , they make a sound by forcing their breath out between their lips or their teeth. People sometimes whistle when they are surprised or shocked, or to call a dog, or to show that they are impressed. □ [V ] He whistled, surprised but not shocked. □ [V prep] Jenkins whistled through his teeth, impressed at last. ● N‑COUNT Whistle is also a noun. □ Jackson gave a low whistle.
3 → see also wolf-whistle
4 VERB If something such as a train or a kettle whistles , it makes a loud, high sound. □ [V ] Somewhere a train whistled. □ [V -ing] …the whistling car radio. ● whis|tling N‑SING □ …the whistling of the wind.
5 VERB If something such as the wind or a bullet whistles somewhere, it moves there, making a loud, high sound. □ [V prep] The wind was whistling through the building. □ [V prep] As I stood up a bullet whistled past my back.