vortex

[ vawr-teks ]

noun

, plural vor·ti·ces [vawr, -t, uh, -seez], vor·tex·es.

1. a whirling mass of water, especially one in which a force of suction operates, as a whirlpool.
2. a whirling mass of air, especially one in the form of a visible column or spiral, as a tornado. polar vortex.
3. a whirling mass of fire, flame, etc.
4. a state of affairs likened to a whirlpool for violent activity, irresistible force, etc.
5. something regarded as drawing into its powerful current everything that surrounds it:

   the vortex of war.

6. (in Cartesian philosophy) a rapid rotatory movement of cosmic matter about a center, regarded as accounting for the origin or phenomena of bodies or systems of bodies in space.

vortex

/ ˈvɔːtɛks /

noun

1. a whirling mass or rotary motion in a liquid, gas, flame, etc, such as the spiralling movement of water around a whirlpool
2. any activity, situation, or way of life regarded as irresistibly engulfing

vortex

/ vôr′tĕks′ /

, Plural vortexes vôr′tĭ-sēz′

1. A circular, spiral, or helical motion in a fluid (such as a gas) or the fluid in such a motion. A vortex often forms around areas of low pressure and attracts the fluid (and the objects moving within it) toward its center. Tornados are examples of vortexes; vortexes that form around flying objects are a source of turbulence and drag.
2. See also eddy

Derived Forms

• ˈvortically, adverb
• ˈvortical, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vortex¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin, variant of vertex vertex

Word History and Origins

Origin of vortex¹

C17: from Latin: a whirlpool; variant of vertex

Example Sentences

And here we are again, caught in a swirling vortex from which we can't seem to escape.

From Salon

Big Tech is falling into a vortex of self-propelling errors that’s had the effect of polluting the entire digital information ecosystem.

From Slate

That’s true of many minority groups, but when it is multiplied by the sometimes-unspoken requirements of marriage—very Tammy Wynette, very “Stand By Your Man”—it creates a vortex impossible to escape.

From Slate

Kaplan is drawn into a vortex of elongated time, where a day turns into a week turns into a month and where deadlines are written on water.

From Los Angeles Times

“At that moment I just felt as if I had a very, very intricate piece of embroidery or work, and it was just unravelling in front of me. I could feel my whole world collapsing in like a vortex.”

From BBC

Related Words

• dust devil
• tornado
• tourbillion
• whirlwind