vortex

noun

vor·​tex ˈvȯr-ˌteks How to pronounce vortex (audio)
plural vortices ˈvȯr-tə-ˌsēz How to pronounce vortex (audio) also vortexes ˈvȯr-ˌtek-səz How to pronounce vortex (audio)
1
: something that resembles a whirlpool
the hellish vortex of battleTime
2
a
: a mass of fluid (such 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

Examples of vortex in a Sentence

a boat sucked down into the vortex
Recent Examples on the Web That means the cold air trapped at the top of the planet, called the polar vortex, escapes its normal confines and drifts elsewhere, bringing short plunges of frigid air that temporarily counteracts the overall warming trend in places, Dr. Cohen said. Seth Borenstein, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024 Entering the hotel, guests immediately noticed black and white patterns, from the chess flooring to the striped optical illusions of spiral vortexes, all of which called to mind the intro of the late 1950s/early 1960s television show The Twilight Zone. Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 The development of these patterns — a possible response to a disruption of the polar vortex — would stack the deck for colder and stormier weather in the eastern United States. Matt Rogers, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Light-scattering microparticles reveal the flow pattern for the reverse (sucking) mode of a sprinkler, showing vortices and complex flow patterns forming inside the central chamber. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2024 When a raindrop hits a leaf of a wheat plant that is infected with rust, the leaf will flutter and create these tiny swirling vortices of air that spreads the spores around. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 31 Jan. 2024 Some scientists believe polar vortex disruptions and changes to the jet stream are being driven by warming in the Arctic, which is heating up around four times faster than the rest of the planet. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2024 Polar vortex to usher in arctic air Thanks in part to return of the polar vortex, the coldest air of the season is poised to roar across the central and eventually eastern U.S. over the next week, the National Weather Service said. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2024 There also should be extreme weather surrounding the event like tempests, tornadoes, vortexes and lava. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vortex.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vortex was in 1652

Dictionary Entries Near vortex

Cite this Entry

“Vortex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vortex. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vortex

noun
vor·​tex ˈvȯr-ˌteks How to pronounce vortex (audio)
plural vortices ˈvȯrt-ə-ˌsēz How to pronounce vortex (audio) also vortexes
: a mass of whirling fluid forming a cavity in the center toward which things are drawn : whirlpool

Medical Definition

vortex

transitive verb
vor·​tex ˈvȯ(ə)r-ˌteks How to pronounce vortex (audio)
: to mix (as the contents of a test tube) by means of a rapid whirling or circular motion
vortex air into a solution
vortexing noun

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