<p><strong>Noun:</strong></p><ul><li>a relatively small mass of air rotating rapidly around a more or less vertical axis and simultaneously advancing over land or sea: specific categories of whirlwind include dust devil, dust whirl, tornado, and waterspout</li><li>The sails were carried up to the mastheads by the force of the whirlwind</li><li>anything resembling a whirlwind, as in violent action or destructive force: a fiery whirlwind of shrapnel</li><li>someone or something characterized by great energy or swiftness, often with an atmosphere of chaos: a staff of three do-nothings and one whirlwind; a whirlwind of activity at the stock exchange</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective:</strong></p><ul><li>like a whirlwind, as in speed or force: a whirlwind visit to New York</li><li>Synonyms: impulsive, hasty, breakneck, headlong</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object):</strong></p><ul><li>to move or travel quickly: You can't just whirlwind in and out of their lives and expect them to be OK with that</li></ul>