eddy

[ ed-ee ]
See synonyms for eddy on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural ed·dies.
  1. a current at variance with the main current in a stream of liquid or gas, especially one having a rotary or whirling motion.

  2. a small whirlpool.

  1. any similar current, as of air, dust, or fog.

  2. a current or trend, as of opinion or events, running counter to the main current.

verb (used with or without object),ed·died, ed·dy·ing.
  1. to move or whirl in eddies.

Origin of eddy

1
1425–75; late Middle English; Old English ed- turning + ēa water; akin to Old Norse itha

Other words from eddy

  • un·ed·died, adjective
  • un·ed·dy·ing, adjective

Other definitions for Eddy (2 of 2)

Eddy
[ ed-ee ]

noun
  1. Mary (Morse) Baker Mrs. Glover; Mrs. Patterson, 1821–1910, U.S. founder of the Christian Science Church.

  2. Also Eddie. a male given name, form of Edgar or Edward.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use eddy in a sentence

  • This passed, and there was a deathly pause of ten minutes while the whole sky eddied as with smoke-wreaths.

    The Riddle of the Sands | Erskine Childers
  • Now came a whiff of biting smoke down the well shaft, borne by some breath of wind that eddied into it.

    Wulfric the Weapon Thane | Charles W. Whistler
  • The dense smoke eddied and circled round the court, and the Danes were gone, leaving us in a ring of fire on three sides.

    Wulfric the Weapon Thane | Charles W. Whistler
  • A resinous odour of pine-wood impregnated the air, and the ruddy smoke eddied through a fissure in the rock.

    The Man-Wolf and Other Tales | Emile Erckmann and Alexandre Chatrian
  • The crack of a revolver rang out, and a whiff of smoke eddied upward from one of the barricaded front windows.

    Motor Matt's Daring Rescue | Stanley R. Matthews

British Dictionary definitions for eddy (1 of 2)

eddy

/ (ˈɛdɪ) /


nounplural -dies
  1. a movement in a stream of air, water, or other fluid in which the current doubles back on itself causing a miniature whirlwind or whirlpool

  2. a deviation from or disturbance in the main trend of thought, life, etc, esp one that is relatively unimportant

verb-dies, -dying or -died
  1. to move or cause to move against the main current

Origin of eddy

1
C15: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse itha; related to Old English ed- again, back, Old High German it-

British Dictionary definitions for Eddy (2 of 2)

Eddy

/ (ˈɛdɪ) /


noun
  1. Mary Baker. 1821–1910, US religious leader; founder of the Christian Science movement (1866)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for eddy

eddy

[ ĕdē ]


  1. A current, as of water or air, moving in a direction that is different from that of the main current. Eddies generally involve circular motion; unstable patterns of eddies are often called turbulence. See also vortex.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.