Main Entry:

vor·tex

Pronunciation:

\ˈvȯr-ˌteks\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural vor·ti·ces \ˈvȯr-tə-ˌsēz\ also vor·tex·es \ˈvȯr-ˌtek-səz\

Etymology:

New Latin vortic-, vortex, from Latin vertex, vortex whirlpool — more at vertex

Date:

1652

1: something that resembles a whirlpool <the hellish vortex of battle — Time>2 a: a mass of fluid (as a liquid) with a whirling or circular motion that tends to form a cavity or vacuum in the center of the circle and to draw toward this cavity or vacuum bodies subject to its action ; especially : whirlpool, eddy b: a region within a body of fluid in which the fluid elements have an angular velocity