vortex

[vawr-teks]

noun

plural

vortices, vortexes 

1. a whirling mass of water, especially one in which a force of suction operates, as a whirlpool.

2. a whirling mass of air, especially one in the form of a visible column or spiral, as a tornado.

3. a whirling mass of fire, flame, etc.

4. a state of affairs likened to a whirlpool for violent activity, irresistible force, etc.

5. something regarded as drawing into its powerful current everything that surrounds it.

   the vortex of war.

6. (in Cartesian philosophy) a rapid rotatory movement of cosmic matter about a center, regarded as accounting for the origin or phenomena of bodies or systems of bodies in space.

vortex

/ ˈvɔːtɛks /

noun

1. a whirling mass or rotary motion in a liquid, gas, flame, etc, such as the spiralling movement of water around a whirlpool

2. any activity, situation, or way of life regarded as irresistibly engulfing

vortex

plural

vortexes 

1. A circular, spiral, or helical motion in a fluid (such as a gas) or the fluid in such a motion. A vortex often forms around areas of low pressure and attracts the fluid (and the objects moving within it) toward its center. Tornados are examples of vortexes; vortexes that form around flying objects are a source of turbulence and drag.

2. See also eddy

Other Word Forms

• vortically adverb
• vortical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vortex¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin, variant of vertex vertex

Word History and Origins

Origin of vortex¹

C17: from Latin: a whirlpool; variant of _vertex

Example Sentences

This is a vortex of chaos, and the executor and her lawyer want to suck you in.

Read more on MarketWatch

Inside the planet's polar vortex, temperatures drop dramatically -- much colder than the air outside -- and the continuous darkness of the long Martian winter allows ozone levels in the atmosphere to rise sharply.

Read more on Science Daily

Does the notion that everything I buy could — and should — be the “best” version send me down deep research vortexes, hours spent parsing product descriptions and comparing reviews, where superiority is measured mainly by price?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Just throw yourself into the vortex,” he says, trying to coax Arisu.

Read more on Salon

"So you get these big vortexes, it's quite intense, with these outbursts of activity."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• dust devil 
• tornado 
• tourbillion 
• whirlwind