Dictionary.com

eddy

[ ed-ee ]
/ ˈɛd i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR eddy

noun, plural ed·dies.

a current at variance with the main current in a stream of liquid or gas, especially one having a rotary or whirling motion.
a small whirlpool.
any similar current, as of air, dust, or fog.
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.

to move or whirl in eddies.

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Origin of eddy

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

OTHER WORDS FROM eddy

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

Words nearby eddy

Edda, Eddery, Eddington, Eddington limit, eddo, eddy, eddy current, Eddy, Mary Baker, Eddystone Rocks, Ede, Edecrin

Definition for eddy (2 of 2)

Eddy
[ ed-ee ]
/ ˈɛd i /

noun

Mary (Morse) Baker Mrs. Glover; Mrs. Patterson, 1821–1910, U.S. founder of the Christian Science Church.
Also Eddie. a male given name, form of Edgar or Edward.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to eddy

whirlpool, swirl, tide, vortex

Example sentences from the Web for eddy

British Dictionary definitions for eddy (1 of 2)

eddy
/ (ˈɛdɪ) /

noun plural -dies

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

verb -dies, -dying or -died

to move or cause to move against the main current

Word Origin for eddy

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

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
[ ĕd′ē ]

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.