/ ˈvɔːteks; NAmE ˈvɔːrt-/ noun ( pl. vor·texes or vor·ti·ces / -tɪsiːz; NAmE /)
1.
( technical ) a mass of air, water, etc. that spins around very fast and pulls things into its centre
SYN whirlpool , whirlwind
2.
( literary ) a very powerful feeling or situation that you cannot avoid or escape from :
They were caught up in a whirling vortex of emotion.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Latin vortex , vortic- , literally eddy , variant of vertex .