Word
vortex
Phoneticsvor·tex
US/ˈvɔɹtɛks/
UK/vˈɔːtɛks/
Definitions
01spinning fluid or air
n. a mass of air or water that spins very fast and pulls things toward its center.
n. a mass of fluid or air with a whirling or circular motion that tends to form a vacuum in the center.
“The water drained out of the bathtub, creating a small vortex over the hole.”
“Aerodynamicists study the wingtip vortex because the resulting turbulence can significantly impact the fuel efficiency of following aircraft.”
Technical
03to mix rapidly
v. to mix a liquid very quickly using a special machine that creates a spinning motion.
v. to agitate a liquid sample using a vortex mixer to ensure thorough blending.
“The scientist had to vortex the tube for ten seconds to mix the chemicals.”
“After adding the reagent, the technician must vortex each vial individually to ensure the suspension is completely homogeneous before analysis.”
Technical
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“From Socceroos to soccer-moves, the World Cup has launched Australia’s top footballers into the transfer vortex, highlighted by this week’s signing of Lucas Herrington and expected signing of Nestory Irankunda at top-flight European clubs.” “It turns out they’re usually between 60 and 100 kilometers apart, with individual vortexes measuring from 25 to 170 kilometers in diameter.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin vortex. Doublet of vertex.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/vortex