gyre

gyre  (jr)

n.

1. A circular or spiral form; a vortex: "rain swirling the night into tunnels and gyres" (Anthony Hyde).

2. A circular or spiral motion, especially a circular ocean current.

intr.v. gyred, gyr·ing, gyres

To whirl.

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[Latin grus, from Greek gros.]

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gyre [dʒaɪə] Chiefly literary

n

1. a circular or spiral movement or path

2. a ring, circle, or spiral

vb

(intr) to whirl

[from Latin gȳrus circle, from Greek guros]

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gyre  (jr)

A spiral oceanic surface current driven primarily by the global wind system and constrained by the continents surrounding the three ocean basins (Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian). Each ocean basin has a large gyre in the subtropical region, centered around 30° north and south latitude. Smaller gyres occur at 50° north latitude in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The direction of a gyre's rotation is determined by the prevailing winds in the region, with the large subtropical gyres rotating clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

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gyre - A circular movement or revolution; to cause to spin around or whirl.

See also related terms for revolution.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

gyre - a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals) curl, curlicue, ringlet, scroll, whorl, coil, roll corolla - (botany) the whorl of petals of a flower that collectively form an inner floral envelope or layer of the perianth; "we cultivate the flower for its corolla" calyx - (botany) the whorl of sepals of a flower collectively forming the outer floral envelope or layer of the perianth enclosing and supporting the developing bud; usually green round shape - a shape that is curved and without sharp angles verticil - a whorl of leaves growing around a stem