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vortex

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.05 sec.
vor·tex  (vôrtks)
n. pl. vor·tex·es or vor·ti·ces (-t-sz)
1. A spiral motion of fluid within a limited area, especially a whirling mass of water or air that sucks everything near it toward its center.
2. A place or situation regarded as drawing into its center all that surrounds it: "As happened with so many theater actors, he was swept up in the vortex of Hollywood" New York Times.

[Latin vortex, vortic-, variant of vertex, from vertere, to turn; see wer-2 in Indo-European roots.]

vortex [vor-tex, -tiss-seez]
Noun
pl -tices
1. a whirling mass or motion, such as a whirlpool or whirlwind
2. a situation which draws people into it against their will: the vortex of other people's problems [Latin: a whirlpool]
vortical adj

vortex  (vôrtks)
Plural vortexes or vortices (vôrt-sz)
A circular, spiral, or helical motion in a fluid (such as a gas) or the fluid in such a motion. A vortex often forms around areas of low pressure and attracts the fluid (and the objects moving within it) toward its center. Tornados are examples of vortexes; vortexes that form around flying objects are a source of turbulence and drag. See also eddy.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.vortexvortex - the shape of something rotating rapidly
round shape - a shape that is curved and without sharp angles
2.vortexvortex - a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)
current, stream - a steady flow of a fluid (usually from natural causes); "the raft floated downstream on the current"; "he felt a stream of air"; "the hose ejected a stream of water"
Charybdis - (Greek mythology) a ship-devouring whirlpool lying on the other side of a narrow strait from Scylla

vortex

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Despite the indifference to the affairs of the world he had expressed to Pierre, he diligently followed all that went on, received many books, and to his surprise noticed that when he or his father had visitors from Petersburg, the very vortex of life, these people lagged behind himself- who never left the country- in knowledge of what was happening in home and foreign affairs.
Work being slack at present at Devil's Ford, I reck'ned I'd take a pasear down to 'Frisco, and dip into the vortex o' fash'nable society and out again.
The whole body of the river was compressed into a space of less than thirty feet in width, between two ledges of rocks, upwards of two hundred feet high, and formed a whirling and tumultuous vortex, so frightfully agitated as to receive the name of "The Caldron Linn.
 
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