vortex

noun

vor·​tex ˈvȯr-ˌteks 

plural vortices ˈvȯr-tə-ˌsēz  also vortexes ˈvȯr-ˌtek-səz 

1

: something that resembles a whirlpool

the hellish vortex of battle

—Time

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

Synonyms

• gulf
• maelstrom
• whirlpool

Examples of vortex in a Sentence

a boat sucked down into the vortex

Recent Examples on the Web

True, the re-starting of production drove up costs for any major tentpole caught in the strike vortex; Kraven the Hunter spiked from $90M to $110M. While the movie was being cut during the strikes, it was decided to go back for reshoots once the actors and writers’ standoffs ceased. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024

Read on for what the cosmos have in store for your zodiac sign this week Comments We are deeply immersed in a vortex of the past from now until mid-May 2025. —Kyle Thomas, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024

The hallmark of superfluidity is the array of vortices that spawns upon rotation. —Quanta Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024

Other factors, like the stratospheric polar vortex and patterns of air pressure in the North Atlantic are likely to assert themselves this winter, leading to large week-to-week variability, NOAA experts said Thursday. —Andrew Freedman, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024

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

Kids Definition

vortex

noun

vor·​tex ˈvȯr-ˌteks 

plural vortices ˈvȯrt-ə-ˌsēz  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 

: 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