n. (pl. vortexes or vortices)
1. a mass of whirling fluid, esp. a whirlpool or whirlwind.
2 any whirling motion or mass.
3 a system, occupation, pursuit, etc., viewed as swallowing up or engrossing those who approach it (the vortex of society).
4 Physics a portion of fluid whose particles have rotatory motion.
Phrases and idioms:
vortex-ring a vortex whose axis is a closed curve, e.g. a smoke-ring.
Derivatives:
vortical adj. vortically adv. vorticity n. vorticose adj. vorticular adj.
Etymology: L vortex -icis eddy, var. of VERTEX