vortex

See also: vórtex and vòrtex

English

WOTD – 24 August 2006

Etymology

    Learned borrowing from Latin vortex.[1] Doublet of vertex.

    Pronunciation

    • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈvɔɹtɛks/
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Audio (Australia):(file)
    • Rhymes: -ɔɹtɛks

    Noun

    vortex (plural vortices or vortexes)

    1. A whirlwind, whirlpool, or similarly moving matter in the form of a spiral or column.
      • 2013 March, Frank Fish, George Lauder, “Not Just Going with the Flow”, in American Scientist‎[1], volume 101, number 2, archived from the original on 1 May 2013, page 114:
        An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex. The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.
    2. (figuratively) Anything that involves constant violent or chaotic activity around some centre.
    3. (figuratively) Anything that inevitably draws surrounding things into its current.
    4. (historical) A supposed collection of particles of very subtle matter, endowed with a rapid rotary motion around an axis which was also the axis of a sun or planet; part of a Cartesian theory accounting for the formation of the universe, and the movements of the bodies composing it.
      • 1705, George Cheyne, “Of the Physical Laws, and the Uniform Appearances of Nature. Law III. Corollary V.”, in Philosophical Principles of Natural Religion: […], London: […] George Strahan […], →OCLC, § XXII, page 32:
        Novv ſhou'd it happen that any of theſe Sun-like Bodies in the Centers of the ſeveral Vortices ſhou'd be ſo incruſtated and vveaken'd, as to be carried about in the Vortex of the true Sun, if it vvere of leſs Solidity, or leſs capable of Motion than the Globules, tovvards the extremity of the Solar Vortex, then it vvou'd deſcend tovvard the Sun, till it met vvith Globules of the ſame Solidity, and capable of the ſame degree of Motion vvith it, and being fixt there, it vvou'd for ever be carried about by the Motion of the Vortex, vvithout either approaching to, or receding from the Sun, and ſo become a Planet.
    5. (zoology) Any of numerous species of small Turbellaria belonging to Vortex and allied genera.
    6. (collective) A group of vultures or buzzards.
      • 2002, Deborah Copaken, Shutterbabe: Adventures in Love and War‎[4], Random House Publishing Group, page 143:
        But when we reach the vortex of vultures, there he is.
      • 2014, Bernd Heinrich, Ravens in Winter‎[5], Simon & Schuster, page 44:
        a vortex of vultures converges from all directions to compete viciously at the carcass
      • 2019, Matt Rader, Visual Inspection‎[6], Harbour Publishing Company Limited:
        On Pincushion, the slow vortex of vultures guides me back to earlier vultures circling a blown-out tire on Interstate 5 somewhere north of Eugene, Oregon.
      • 2006, Charles Snellings, The Hidebehind‎[7], page 59:
        Bobby looked up, and once again noticed a vortex of buzzards circling somewhere behind Pistol Creek Camp.

    Derived terms

    Translations

    See also

    Verb

    vortex (third-person singular simple present vortexes, present participle vortexing, simple past and past participle vortexed)

    1. (chemistry) To mix using a vortex mixer.

    References

    1. ^ “vortex, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

    French

    Etymology

      Learned borrowing from Latin vortex.

      Pronunciation

      Noun

      vortex m (uncountable)

      1. vortex

      Further reading

      Latin

      Etymology

        From vortō (“to turn around, turn about”).

        Pronunciation

        Noun

        vortex m (genitive vorticis); third declension

        1. archaic form of vertex

        Inflection

        Third-declension noun.

        singular plural
        nominative vortex vorticēs
        genitive vorticis vorticum
        dative vorticī vorticibus
        accusative vorticem vorticēs
        ablative vortice vorticibus
        vocative vortex vorticēs

        Descendants

        Descendants
        • → English: vortex
        • → French: vortex
        • → Italian: vortice
        • → Portuguese: vórtice, vórtex
        • → Sicilian: vòrtici
        • → Spanish: vórtice

        References

        • “vortex”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
        • "vortex", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
        • “vortex”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.

        Romanian

        Etymology

        Etymology tree
        Proto-Indo-European *wert-
        Proto-Indo-European *-eti
        Proto-Indo-European *-etor
        Proto-Indo-European *wértetor
        Proto-Italic *wertō
        Latin vortō
        Latin vortexlbor.
        French vortexbor.
        ▲
        Latin vortexlbor.
        Romanian vortex

          Borrowed from French vortex, or a learned borrowing from Latin vortex.

          Pronunciation

          • IPA(key): /ˈvor.teks/

          Noun

          vortex n (plural vortexuri)

          1. vortex

          Declension

          singular plural
          indefinite definite indefinite definite
          nominative-accusative vortex vortexul vortexuri vortexurile
          genitive-dative vortex vortexului vortexuri vortexurilor
          vocative vortexule vortexurilor

          Further reading

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