n.
Pronunciation: ' vo ̇ r- ˌ teks
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural vor · ti · ces \ ' vo ̇ r-t ə - ˌ s ē z \ also vor · tex · es \ ' vo ̇ r- ˌ tek-s ə z \
Etymology: New Latin vortic-, vortex, from Latin vertex, vortex whirlpool ― more at VERTEX
Date: 1652
1 : something that resembles a whirlpool <the hellish vortex of battle ― Time >
2 a : a mass of fluid (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