Vōr'tex, n.
n.; Eng. pl. VŌR/TEX-ES; Lat. pl. VŌR/TI-CĒS. [Lat. vortex, vertex, from vortere, vertere, to turn, It. & Sp. vortice.]
Sense 1. A whirling or circular motion of any fluid, usually of water, forming a kind of cavity in the center of the circle, and in some instances drawing in water or absorbing other things; a whirlpool.
Sense 2. A whirling of the air; a whirlwind.
Sense 3. (Cartesian System.) A supposed collection of particles of very subtile matter, endowed with a rapid rotary motion around an axis. By means of these vortices, Descartes attempted to account for the formation of the universe.