List of 426 Sets of Synonyms - How they Differ - Total of 2307 Words - 405

SYNONYMS: turn, rotate, revolve, gyrate, spin, whirl, circle, eddy, swirl.
These verbs all mean to move or cause to move in a circle.

Turn, the most general, means to move in a circular course: a planet turning on its axis; turned and stared at me.
Rotate usually involves movement around an object's own axis or center: The top rotated with decreasing speed as the spring wound down.
Revolve can have the same meaning as rotate, while in certain contexts it is distinguished from rotate as involving orbital movement: The earth revolves around the sun.
Gyrate usually refers to revolving in or as if in a spiral course: waltzers gyrating giddily.
To spin is to rotate rapidly, often within a narrow compass: He spun round, flung up his arms, and fell on his back, shot through.
Whirl applies to rapid or forceful revolution or rotation: whirling snowflakes.
Circle refers to circular or approximately circular motion: sea gulls circling above the ocean.
Eddy usually denotes rapid circular movement like that of a whirlpool: Storm clouds eddied overhead.
Swirl, often interchangeable with eddy, sometimes connotes a graceful undulation, spiral, or whorl: The flood waters swirled wildly under the bridge. The milliner swirled tulle lavishly above the brim of the hat.