eddy

[ed-ee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR eddy ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Origin of eddy

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

Related formsun·ed·died, adjectiveun·ed·dy·ing, adjective

Eddy

[ed-ee]

noun

Mary (Morse) BakerMrs. GloverMrs. Patterson, 1821–1910, U.S. founder of the Christian Science Church.

Also Ed·die. a male given name, form of Edgar or Edward.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for eddy

whirlpool, swirl, tide, vortex

Examples from the Web for eddy

Contemporary Examples of eddy

Jean François Bruel, executive chef at Daniel, and Eddy Leroux, chef de cuisine, in particular.
The Frenchman Who Rules New York
Katie Workman
September 22, 2009

Historical Examples of eddy

Ump shouted to turn down into the eddy, and I swung El Mahdi around.
Dwellers in the Hills
Melville Davisson Post
In the vortex of the eddy the delusion of the vast cone was more pronounced.
Dwellers in the Hills
Melville Davisson Post
With him we broke through the circle of steers forcing into the centre of the eddy.
Dwellers in the Hills
Melville Davisson Post
This is soon done and the men in the boats in the eddy pull us to their side.
Little Masterpieces of Science: Explorers
Various
I think we can pass the other boats down by us, and catch them in the eddy.
Little Masterpieces of Science: Explorers
Various

British Dictionary definitions for eddy

eddy

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-

Eddy

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

Word Origin and History for eddy

mid-15c., Scottish ydy, possibly from Old Norse iða "whirlpool," from Proto-Germanic *ith- "a second time, again," which is related to the common Old English prefix ed- "again, backwards; repetition, turning" (forming such words as edðingung "reconciliation," edgift "restitution," edniwian "to renew, restore," edhwierfan "to retrace one's steps," edgeong "to become young again"). Cf. Old English edwielle "eddy, vortex, whirlpool." The prefix is cognate with Latin et, Old High German et-, Gothic iþ "and, but, however." Related: Eddies.

1810, from eddy (n.). Related: Eddied; eddying.

eddy in Science

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.