/ ˈmeɪlstrɒm; NAmE -strɑ:m/ noun [ usually sing. ]
1.
( literary ) a situation full of strong emotions or confusing events, that is hard to control and makes you feel frightened
2.
a very strong current of water that moves in circles
SYN whirlpool
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent.: from early modern Dutch (denoting a mythical whirlpool in the Arctic Ocean, west of Norway), from maalen grind, whirl + stroom stream.