Standard Lemma guide

whirligig

noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈwɜː.lɪ.ɡɪɡ/
  • US: /ˈwɝ.lɪ.ɡɪɡ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy top or a merry-go-round.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A device incorporating spinning, wind-driven propellers or pinwheels, used as whimsical outdoor decoration in a garden or on a porch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Ellipsis of whirligig beetle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A device for punishing prisoners, comprising a wooden cage that rapidly spins around to induce nausea.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

a large, rotating machine with seats for children to ride or amusement

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: carousel, carrousel, merry-go-round, roundabout

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: ride

6

noun

Meaning 6

a conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he got a bright red top and string for his birthday

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: top, teetotum, spinning top

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: plaything, toy

Narrower terms: humming top, peg top, whipping top, whip top

7

verb

Meaning 7

whirl or spin like a whirligig

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: spin, spin around, whirl, reel, gyrate

History

Etymology

From Middle English whyrlegygge; equivalent to whirl (noun or verb) + gig (“a top”).

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: пумпал (pumpal) — anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy
  • Bulgarian: въртележка (vǎrteležka) — anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy
  • Czech: větrník — anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy
  • Finnish: väkkyrä — anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy
  • Māori: tararī — anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy
  • Māori: takawairore — anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy
  • Russian: вертушка (vertuška) — anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy
  • Turkish: fırıldak — anything that whirls or spins around, such as a toy