whrrr.

n.  the sound of a cargo bay door opening, as described in Big Silver Space Shuttle by Ken Wilson-Max.


n.  the sound of a flaming arrow, as described in Into the Fire by Dennis KcKiernan.


n.  the sound of a grouse fleeing its territory; see also ppptr-rrrrrrrr.

<I turn to walk back to the dog, and whrrr!, a grouse tears up through the undercover and is gone.  —Dennis Walrod, Grouse Hunter’s Guide: Solid Facts, Insights, and Observations on How to Hunt the Ruffed Grouse.>

n.  the sound of a gun turret locking on target, as in the graphic novella Hearts and Minds by Scott McCloud.


n.  the sound of an operating photocopy machine.

<A pressed button, a whrrr, the procedure repeated, and into the tray slid two copies.  —Michael Doris, The Crown of Columbus.>

n.  the whir of falling debris.

<In the morning heat fragile ice towers and rotten rocks were breaking loose, filling Big Al Gully with the echoing whrrr and boom of falling debris.  —Stephen Venables, Everest: Alone at the Summit.>

n.  the whirring of a broken clothes dryer, as described in Words and Wisdom of the Appliance Doctor by Joseph Gagnon.

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