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vortex

Syllabification: (vor·tex)
Pronunciation: /ˈvôrˌteks/
Translate vortex | into French | into Italian
Definition of vortex

noun (plural vortexes or vortices /-təˌsēz/)

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

Derivatives

vortical

Pronunciation: /ˈvôrtikəl/
adjective

vortically

Pronunciation: /ˈvôrtik(ə)lē/
adverb

vorticity

Pronunciation: /vôrˈtisitē/
noun

vorticose

Pronunciation: /ˈvôrtəˌkōs/
adjective

vorticular

Pronunciation: /vôrˈtikyələr/
adjective

Origin:

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

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 British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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