vorticity

noun

vor·​tic·​i·​ty vȯr-ˈti-sə-tē How to pronounce vorticity (audio)
1
: the state of a fluid in vortical motion
broadly : vortical motion
2
: a measure of vortical motion
especially : a vector measure of local rotation in a fluid flow

Examples of vorticity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The leading-edge comb stirs the air in a specific way called micro vorticity. Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024 Like today, the temperature differential between ground level and clouds can be amplified by vorticity, creating some frozen precipitation (graupel snow grains) even with temperatures around or slightly above 50 degrees! A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 That allowed some of the winds to curl into an eddy of vorticity, or counterclockwise spin, which was enough to cook up a storm. Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2023 On either periphery of that little jet of winds, small eddies of vorticity, or spin, were able to roll away. Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023 In the case of Sandy, forecasters monitored a higher-order variable called potential vorticity, a measure of a weather system's swirl, to help predict the storm's future development. Ian Roulstone, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2013 Radio beam vorticity and orbital angular momentum. Edwin Cartlidge, Discover Magazine, 10 Oct. 2011 High vorticity often means stronger storms. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2022 The gold lines model vorticity (rotation) while the gray lines represent wind speed, with the red swath denoting the highest speeds. Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vorticity was in 1888

Dictionary Entries Near vorticity

Cite this Entry

“Vorticity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vorticity. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

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