whizzes
|whiz-zes|
/ˈwɪzɪz/
(whiz)
quick movement or expertise
Etymology
'whiz' originates from English, specifically an imitative/onomatopoeic formation (compare 'whizz'), imitating a hissing or whooshing sound of something moving quickly.
'whiz' (also spelled 'whizz') appeared in the 19th century in colloquial English as an imitative word for a hissing/whistling sound; the sense 'move quickly' and the derived sense 'expert' developed from this usage and led to modern forms like 'whiz' and the noun 'whiz'.
Initially, it referred to a hissing or whooshing sound produced by swift movement; over time it evolved to mean 'move swiftly' and later, by metaphorical extension, 'a person who is exceptionally skilled' (an 'expert').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'whiz': an expert or very talented person, especially in a particular field.
The company hired several whizzes to improve the app's performance.
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Verb 1
third-person singular present of 'whiz' meaning to move very quickly or make a hissing/whooshing sound while moving.
A sports car whizzes by on the highway every few minutes.
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Verb 2
third-person singular present of 'whiz' used informally to mean perform a task very quickly or be extremely skilled at something (e.g., 'whizzes through the test').
She whizzes through the math problems while the rest of the class struggles.
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Last updated: 2025/09/27 01:24