vortices
Fluid spiral formations
Vortices is the plural of vortex—a spinning mass of fluid or air that draws things toward its center, like a whirlpool or tornado.
The word extends to any situation with similar pulling force: The city's vortices of nightlife pulled him in.
Both vortices and vortexes are acceptable plurals, though vortices sounds more technical or formal.
Violent whirlpool or upheaval
- eddyCircular counter-current
- gyreCircular or spiral motion
- CharybdisMythological sea vortex
- funnelCone directing flow
suction · drainage · engulf · swirl · current · sinkhole · centripetal · submerge
Complete disorder and confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- maelstromViolent whirlpool or upheaval
- whirlwindViolently rotating air column
- tumultNoisy, chaotic disturbance
engulf · consume · pull · inescapable · overwhelming · frenzy
Circular counter-current
- gyreCircular or spiral motion
- circulationMovement through a system
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- wakePath left in water
streamlines · shear · viscosity · dissipation · momentum · hydrodynamics
Rotating, curving movement
- whorlSpiral arrangement of ridges
- helixSpiraling three-dimensional curve
- coilWound circular arrangement
- twistRotating motion or surprise
spiral · rotate · revolve · circulate · curl · loop · pinwheel · whirligig
Rotating low-pressure storm system
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
- waterspoutMarine vortex phenomenon
cyclonic · anticyclonic · supercell · mesocyclone · low-pressure · twister
Mechanism for vertical transport
- dragResistance through fluid
- airfoilLift-generating curved surface
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
- wakePath left in water
maelstrom
Violent whirlpool or upheaval
funnel · suction · drainage · engulf · swirl · current · sinkhole · centripetal · submerge · abyss
chaos
Complete disorder and confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- maelstromViolent whirlpool or upheaval
- whirlwindViolently rotating air column
tumult · engulf · consume · pull · inescapable · overwhelming · frenzy
eddy
Circular counter-current
- gyreCircular or spiral motion
- circulationMovement through a system
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
wake · streamlines · shear · viscosity · dissipation · momentum · hydrodynamics
swirl
Rotating, curving movement
- whorlSpiral arrangement of ridges
- helixSpiraling three-dimensional curve
- coilWound circular arrangement
twist · spiral · rotate · revolve · circulate · curl · loop · pinwheel · whirligig · corkscrew
cyclone
Rotating low-pressure storm system
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
waterspout · cyclonic · anticyclonic · supercell · mesocyclone · low-pressure · twister
lift
Mechanism for vertical transport
- dragResistance through fluid
- airfoilLift-generating curved surface
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
wake · streamlines · downwash · contrails · slipstream
- pluralsmen, women, feet, mice, geese
- planetary atmospheresatmospheric layers, clouds, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon
- turbulencesevere turbulence, chop, bumps, eddies, wind shear
- fluid dynamicsfluid mechanics, fluid flow, turbulence, fluid motion, streamlines
- protoplanetary disksgas giants, planetesimals, protoplanets, accretion, snow line
- excitationsquasiparticles, singlet state, energy level, energy levels, quantum states
vorticesstillness
Complete lack of motion
stagnation · calm · quiescence · equilibrium · stasis
- polar vorticesCirculating arctic upper-atmosphere winds