An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

A rapidly rotating column of air (whirlwind) over a dry and dusty or shady area, carrying dust, leaves, and other light material picked up from the ground (Meteorology Glossary, Amer. Meteo. Soc.). See also → dust devil, → dust storm.

→ dust; → whirl.

1) To turn around or spin rapidly.
2) The act of whirling; rapid rotation. → whirlwind, → whirlpool, → dust whirl.

M.E. whirlen, from O.N. hvirfla "to whirl," akin to O.E. hwyrflung "turning, revolving."

→ rotate; → revolve.

A powerful water current moving rapidly in a circular manner, as that produced by the meeting of opposing currents, sucking down anything that comes within. → Whirlpool galaxy.

From whirl "to turn around," from M.E. whirlen, from O.N. hvirfla "to whirl," cognate with O.E. hweorfan "to turn;" + → pool "a body of water."

Gerdâb "whirlpool," from gerd from gardidan "to turn" (→ -tropic) + âb, → water.

A large → spiral galaxy of type Sc seen → face-on in the constellation → Canes Venatici and lying about 31 million → light-years away. Also known as M51 and NGC 5194. It is interacting with a small irregular galaxy NGC 5195.

→ whirlpool; → galaxy.

A general term for a small-scale, rotating column of air. More specific terms are → dust whirl, → dust devil, → waterspout, and → tornado.

→ whirl; → wind.