French word

vortex

Pronunciation

IPA/vɔʁtɛks/

Meaning

  • masculine nounwhirlpool

Example

L'eau qui tombe crée un vortex dans l'évier.

The falling water creates a whirlpool in the sink.

Illustration for vortex (whirlpool)

More examples

Après les manifestations, la ville semblait prise dans un vortex de violence.

After the demonstrations, the city seemed caught in a vortex of violence.

Core concept

A liquid or gas spins around an axis in a tightening spiral.

Common phrases

  • se retrouver dans un vortex

    find oneself in a vortex

  • vortex de violence

    vortex of violence

Similar words

tourbillon: A small, fast-spinning whirlpool that draws in nearby material.
turbulence: A state of irregular, disturbed movement in a flowing substance.
remous: A localized eddy or reverse current in a river, sea, or similar body of water.

Definition in French

Mouvement tourbillonnant d'un liquide ou d'un gaz qui tourne autour d'un axe et forme une spirale.

Word origin

French vortex is borrowed from Latin vortex, meaning 'whirlpool', from the verb vertere, meaning 'to turn'.

Usage tips

  • Vortex is masculine, so standard usage is le vortex.

Opposites

Word lists with this word