n. Marine mollusc with a spiral shell. [old english]

v. Poet. - engulf.

- crush with weight. [old english]

—n. - young dog; puppy.

- archaic cub.

- ill-mannered child or youth. —v. (also absol.) Give birth to (a whelp or whelps or (derog.) A child). [old english]

—interrog. Adv. - in or to what place or position? 2 in what respect? (where does it concern us?). —rel. Adv. (prec. By place etc.) In or to which (places where they meet). —conj. - in or to the or any place, direction, or respect in which (go where you like; tick where applicable).

- and there (reached crewe, where the car broke down). —pron. What place? (where do you come from?). —n. Place; scene of something (see *when n.). [old english]

—interrog. Adj. Asking for choice from a definite set of alternatives (which john do you mean?; say which book you prefer). —rel. Adj. Being the one just referred to; and this or these (ten years, during which time they admitted nothing). —interrog. Pron. - which person or persons? (which of you is responsible?).

- which thing or things? (say which you prefer). —rel. Pron. (poss. Of which, whose) 1 which thing or things, usu. Introducing a clause not essential for identification (the house, which is empty, has been damaged).

- used in place of that after in or that (there is the house in which i was born; that which you have just seen). [old english]

n. - puff or breath of air, smoke, etc.

- smell.

- (foll. By of) trace of scandal etc.

- small cigar. [imitative]

—n. Period of time (a long while ago; waited a while; all this while). —conj. - during the time that; for as long as; at the same time as (while i was away, the house was burgled; fell asleep while reading).

- in spite of the fact that; whereas (while i want to believe it, i cannot). —v. (-ling) (foll. By away) pass (time etc.) In a leisurely or interesting way. —rel. Adv. (prec. By time etc.) During which (the summer while i was abroad). between whiles in the intervals. For a while for some time. In a while soon. The while in the meantime. Worth while (or worth one's while) worth the time or effort spent. [old english]

—n. - complaining long-drawn wail as of a dog.

- similar shrill prolonged sound.

- querulous tone or complaint. —v. (-ning) emit or utter a whine; complain. [old english]

—v. - swing round and round; revolve rapidly.

- (foll. By away) convey or go rapidly in a vehicle etc.

- send or travel swiftly in an orbit or a curve.

- (of the brain etc.) Seem to spin round. —n. - whirling movement.

- state of intense activity (the social whirl).

- state of confusion (in a whirl). give it a whirl colloq. Attempt it. [old norse, and low german or dutch]

—n. Continuous rapid buzz or soft clicking sound. —v. (-rr-) make this sound. [scandinavian]