a sudden desire or change of mind, especially one that is unusual or unexplained 突然产生的念头;一闪而过的念头;异想天开的念头;怪念头 she bought it on a whim. 她一时心血来潮地买了它。 [mass noun]he appeared and disappeared at whim. 他随心所欲地现身或消失。
(archaic)a windlass for raising ore or water from a mine (古)(提升矿石或打水用的)绞绳滚筒,绞盘
语源
late 17th cent.: of unknown origin. Sense 2 (mid 18th cent.) is a transferred use