Category:Vortex

Vor"tex, n.; pl. E. Vortexes, l. Vortices. Etym: [l. vortex, vertex, -icis, fr. vortere, vertere, to turn. See vertex.]

1. A mass of fluid, especially of a liquid, having a whirling or Circular motion tending to form a cavity or vacuum in the center of The circle, and to draw in towards the center bodies subject to its Action; the form assumed by a fluid in such motion; a whirlpool; an Eddy.

2. (cartesian system)

Defn: a supposed collection of particles of very subtile matter, Endowed with a rapid rotary motion around an axis which was also the Axis of a sun or a planet. Descartes attempted to account for the Formation of the universe, and the movements of the bodies composing It, by a theory of vortices.

3. (zoöl.)

Defn: any one of numerous species of small turbellaria belonging to Vortex and allied genera. See illustration in appendix. Vortex atom (chem.), a hypothetical ring-shaped mass of elementary matter in Continuous vortical motion. It is conveniently regarded in certain Mathematical speculations as the typical form and structure of the Chemical atom. -- vortex wheel, a kind of turbine.