irrotational

[ ir-oh-tey-shuh-nl ]

adjective

1. not having rotation.
2. Mathematics. conservative ( def 7 ).

Other Words From

• irro·tation·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of irrotational¹

First recorded in 1870–75; ir- ² + rotational

Example Sentences

The motion produced has the property described by the word "irrotational," that is, the elements of the fluid have no spinning motion—they move without rotation.

From Project Gutenberg

There is irrotational cyclic motion of the fluid through the ring in one direction and back outside, as shown in Fig.

From Project Gutenberg

For a long time the only kind of fluid motion considered was, with the exception of a few simple cases, that which is called irrotational motion.

From Project Gutenberg

It is to be clearly understood that the motion of a fluid may be irrotational although the value of S does not vanish for every closed path that can be drawn in it.

From Project Gutenberg

The fluid may occupy multiply continuous space, and the path may or may not be drawn so that S shall be zero; but what is necessary for irrotational motion within any space is that S should vanish for all paths which are capable of being shrunk down to zero without passing out of that space.

From Project Gutenberg