Verb (used without object) : An electric fan whirred softly in the corner.    From Dictionary.com. 

Verb (used with object) : The plane whirred them away into the night.    From Dictionary.com. 

Noun : the whir of wings.    From Dictionary.com. 

I knew it would call, or soon or late, as it calls the whirring wings.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses] Reference

"I knew it would call, or soon or late, as it calls the whirring wings.    From Wordnik.com.  [Giant Hours with Poet Preachers] Reference

As they had passed one of the cave-mouths, there had come from it a rhythmic, "whirring" sound, unlike that made by any animal she knew.    From Wordnik.com.  [Expedition to Earth]

Your hard drive shouldn't be "whirring" up and down.    From Wordnik.com.  [Discussions: Message List - root] Reference

In summer, we hear among the trees a shrill kind of whirring sound, which is kept up for a long time without any pause.    From Wordnik.com.  [Friends in Feathers and Fur, and Other Neighbors For Young Folks] Reference

"I did once or twice hear a sound I thought was like -- well, like a clock being wound, only steadily, a kind of whirring sound.".    From Wordnik.com.  [Adventure of the Frightened Baronet]

Later the air is alive with the whirring of motors.    From Wordnik.com.  [Aeroplanes and Dirigibles of War] Reference

But a moment later the motor started whirring again.    From Wordnik.com.  [Gold in the Sky] Reference

 The splashing of water, the whirring of pulled line.    From Wordnik.com.  [Thinly Sliced Raw Fish] Reference

My wife had our hidden video camera whirring away in her bag.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Prisoner's Journey] Reference

Laughter rings round, cogs start whirring, pound signs appear.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Hard Sell: Sodastream] Reference

A locust came whirring toward him, plumped to earth at his feet.    From Wordnik.com.  [It Could Be Anything] Reference

He smiles, wipes his forehead, and points toward the whirring fan.    From Wordnik.com.  [Our Costume Is a Kiss] Reference

The fans are whirring overhead but they can't dispel the humidity.    From Wordnik.com.  [In India, Stigma Of Mental Illness Hinders Treatment] Reference

He heard a whirring sound, and saw the magnetic mooring cables jerk.    From Wordnik.com.  [Gold in the Sky] Reference

The whirring helicopter blades sucked clouds of gas back into the chopper.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Last Days Of Saigon] Reference

Suddenly from the air above them came a curious whirring, throbbing noise.    From Wordnik.com.  [Tom Swift and His Great Searchlight; or, on the border for Uncle Sam] Reference

Fans line the three chrome-plated balconies and the whirring escalators that connect them.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Malling Of Shania] Reference

I've been on a lot of motorcades with whirring lights and sirens, but that's not who I am.    From Wordnik.com.  [Mr. Nice Guy] Reference

When the Leaf is going forward at low and moderate speeds, a whirring sound will be heard.    From Wordnik.com.  [Video: Nissan Leaf gets a soundtrack--hear the EV roar] Reference

Oklahoma City and the World Trade Center are still undamaged when the tapes start whirring.    From Wordnik.com.  [What Was Bill Thinking?] Reference

It was almost peaceful enough for one to hear the traffic whirring by on the streets below.    From Wordnik.com.  [French Vanilla Death - Seconda Parte] Reference

 She reclines in her window seat, sees the starboard prop whirring superfast, looking slo-mo.    From Wordnik.com.  [A Knobby Thing] Reference

We raced back down to the cellar, for the whirring of the aircraft motors was already above us.    From Wordnik.com.  [Dresden In Flames] Reference

The swishing and whirring engine of the dishwasher is still the sound I associate with bedtime.    From Wordnik.com.  [Torn] Reference

When he saw her feet, he was briefly speechless, but viewers saw his brain whirring into action.    From Wordnik.com.  [Why Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies is in rude health] Reference

My bedroom was dark and dreary; my air conditioner whirring its freezing breath over my fuzzy comforter.    From Wordnik.com.  [Friday (the 13th!) Daily Goodbye] Reference

The ground shook under bombs that left craters the size of baseball diamonds and shells that came whirring in.    From Wordnik.com.  [Saddam's Last Stand] Reference

But the tourists 'whirring camcorders and popping camera flashes suggest that they've really come to watch a show.    From Wordnik.com.  [Soul Voyeurs Invade The House Of God] Reference

Our Cars blog writes that when the Leaf is going forward at low and moderate speeds, a whirring sound will be heard.    From Wordnik.com.  [Too quiet ... TOO LOUD!] Reference

Like when all those tiny parts start whirring and purring -- amplified by the popular new, lightweight aluminum cases.    From Wordnik.com.  [Silence Is Golden] Reference

Has your cell phone set your blender to whirring or your Roomba robotic vacuum to doing the rumba through your living room?.    From Wordnik.com.  [When devices conflict: Cell phone vs. “magic” oven] Reference

He stood at a whirring line all day, every day, making the same tiny mechanical motion with his wrist, for 20 pence an hour.    From Wordnik.com.  [Johann Hari: And the Most Inspiring Good News Story of the Year Is...] Reference

(Soundbite of sharpening machine whirring) Mr. KORNBLEUTH: And because of the carbon in this knife, you're going to see sparks.    From Wordnik.com.  [Sharp Knife Skills Save Time In The Kitchen] Reference

In 45-minute meditations, participants learn to observe the whirring thoughts of the mind and the physical sensations in the body.    From Wordnik.com.  [BUDDHA LESSONS] Reference

There was a whirring sound as the wheels spun around, and then the little rubber hose on the pump of the engine filled with water.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Story of a Lamb on Wheels] Reference

The tuning pegs turn by themselves, making a robotic whirring sound that enhances the wow factor (and is, to be honest, a little creepy).    From Wordnik.com.  [For Those About to Rock, We Will Tune You] Reference

It is the vanity and the craving for enjoyment, which is forever whirring around one-self or even around someone else … and enjoying it.    From Wordnik.com.  [Kafka] Reference