whirlwind

plural whirlwinds

1. A windstorm of limited extent, such as a tornado, dust devil, or waterspout, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air.

   And his hoofs ground the rocks to fire and dust, / His strong sides made the torrents rise in spray, / And turbulence, as if a whirlwind’s gust / Surrounded us; […]

   1818, Percy Bysshe Shelley, “(please specify the page)”, in The Revolt of Islam; […], London: […] [F]or C[harles] and J[ames] Ollier, […]; by B[uchanan] M‘Millan, […], →OCLC, (please specify the stanza number)

   1 more example

   VVhile in the mean time there iſſued out on the Eaſt-ſide a ſtrong VVind, but pure and refreſhing, vvhich dividing into ſeveral parts that turned round became ſo many innocuous VVhirl-vvinds of ſincere Air, tinctured only vvith a cool refreſhing ſmell, as if it had paſſed over ſome large field of Lilies and Roſes.

   1713, Franciscus Euistor the Palæopolite [pseudonym; Henry More], “The Fifth Dialogue”, in Divine Dialogues, Containing Sundry Disquisitions & Instructions Concerning the Attributes of God and His Providence in the World. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Joseph Downing […], →OCLC, paragraph XXXVIII, page 515

2. figurativelyA person or body of objects or events sweeping violently onward.

   swept up in the whirlwind of war

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   Once he got that new scooter he turned into a whirlwind and damaged all the flowers.

   The weeks leading up to the convention were a whirlwind of preparation and hurried activity.

   Synonyms: vortex, maelstrom

1. not comparableRapid and minimal.

   a whirlwind tour, a whirlwind romance

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   So you aren't deserting the Caversham ship. They'll understand. After all, their courtship was pretty whirlwind itself.

   2016, Nina Milne, Rafael's Contract Bride, page 60