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vortex

Pronunciation: /ˈvɔːtɛks/

Translate vortex | into French | into Italian
Definition of vortex

noun (plural vortexes or vortices /-tɪsiːz/)

  • a whirling mass of fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind:we were caught in a vortex of water figurativea swirling vortex of emotions

Derivatives

vortical

adjective

vortically

adverb

vorticity

Pronunciation: /vɔːˈtɪsɪti/

noun

vorticose

adjective

vorticular

Pronunciation: /vɔːˈtɪkjʊlə/

adjective

Origin:

mid 17th century: from Latin vortex, vortic-, literally 'eddy', variant of vertex

Spelling help

The plural of vortex can be spelled either vortexes or vortices (as in the original Latin).

vortex in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of vortex in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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