vortex

plural vortices · plural vortexes

1. A whirlwind, whirlpool, or similarly moving matter in the form of a spiral or column.

   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.

   2013 March 28, Frank Fish, George Lauder, “Not Just Going with the Flow”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 2, archived from the original on 01 May 2013, page 114

2. figurativelyAnything that involves constant violent or chaotic activity around some centre.

   Montreal in the summer is a vortex of decadent food, 24-ounce cocktails and carefree people. We reveled in it, danced, swam in fountains.

   2014 May 30, Will Butler, “The Mark of Cane”, in The New York Times Magazine

   1 more example

   It’s hard to imagine that there is any major American clothing brand that does not have a store in the consumer vortex that is East Hampton; […]

   2004 August 30, Rebecca Mead, “Flip-Flop Emergency”, in The New Yorker, page 38

3. figurativelyAnything that inevitably draws surrounding things into its current.

   In early youth, the living drama acted around me, drew my heart and soul into its vortex.

   1826, [Mary Shelley], chapter I, in The Last Man. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 17

4. historicalA 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.

   1 more example

   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.

   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

5. biologyAny of numerous species of small Turbellaria belonging to Vortex and allied genera.
6. collectiveA group of vultures or buzzards.

   But when we reach the vortex of vultures, there he is.

   2002, Deborah Copaken, Shutterbabe: Adventures in Love and War, Random House Publishing Group, page 143

   3 more examples

   a vortex of vultures converges from all directions to compete viciously at the carcass

   2014, Bernd Heinrich, Ravens in Winter, Simon & Schuster, page 44

   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.

   2019, Matt Rader, Visual Inspection, Harbour Publishing Company Limited

   Bobby looked up, and once again noticed a vortex of buzzards circling somewhere behind Pistol Creek Camp.

   2006, Charles Snellings, The Hidebehind, page 59

present singular third person vortexes · participle present vortexing · participle past vortexed · past vortexed

1. chemistryTo mix using a vortex mixer.