vortex
gb/vˈɔɹtɛks/ us/vˈɔɹtɛks/
B2
English
örvény
NOUN
B2
1
örvény
B1
Usage pattern:
a vortex of [air/water/dust]
A dark vortex of water opened beside the boat.
Egy sötét vízörvény nyílt a csónak mellett.
The tornado looked like a giant vortex reaching down from the clouds.
A tornádó úgy nézett ki, mint egy óriási örvény, amely lenyúlt a felhőkből.
Leaves spun in a small vortex at the corner of the building.
Learner examples
The water made a vortex in the sink.
A víz örvényt keltett a mosogatóban.
A vortex can pull objects toward the center.
Egy örvény tárgyakat húzhat a középpont felé.
Common mistake:
A vortex is the spinning flow itself; the center is the point it spins around.
Meaning
A powerful whirling mass
Collocations
powerful vortex
|swirling vortex
|a vortex forms
|a vortex develops
|a vortex of water
|a vortex of air
|create a vortex
|fall into a vortex
|trapped in a vortex
|vortex current
Synonyms
whirlpool (Usually refers to a vortex in water.)
|
maelstrom (Suggests a very violent, dangerous whirl.)
Antonyms
stillness (No spinning or strong movement.)
Themes
nature
|weather
|water
Definition
A fast, spinning movement of air or water.
A mass of air or water that spins rapidly around a center, often strong enough to pull things in.
NOUN
C1
2
örvény
B2
Usage pattern:
a vortex of [activity/violence/debt/rumors]
After the scandal broke, she got caught in a vortex of rumors and online abuse.
Miután kirobbant a botrány, a pletykák és az online zaklatás örvényébe került.
The small disagreement quickly turned into a vortex of blame.
A kis nézeteltérés gyorsan a vádaskodás örvényévé vált.
He tried to stay calm, but work deadlines pulled him into a vortex of stress.
Learner examples
Social media can become a vortex and waste your time.
A közösségi média örvényébe könnyű belesodródni, és elpazarolni az időt.
He escaped the vortex of debt.
Kiszabadult az adósság örvényéből.
Common mistake:
This is a metaphorical meaning; it does not describe literal spinning movement.
Meaning
A situation that pulls you in
Collocations
political vortex
|media vortex
|a vortex of activity
|a vortex of violence
|a vortex of debt
|dragged into a vortex
|drawn into the vortex
|escape the vortex
|caught in a vortex
Synonyms
maelstrom (Emphasizes chaos and being overwhelmed.)
|
trap (More general; does not suggest being ‘pulled in’ by forces around you.)
Antonyms
stability (A steady situation that does not pull you off course.)
Themes
emotions
|society
|daily_life
Definition
A situation that is very intense and hard to get out of.
A difficult or intense situation that draws people in and is hard to escape.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
örvény
B2
Usage pattern:
a vortex forms behind [something]
The engineers measured the vortices forming behind the wing.
A mérnökök megmérték a szárny mögött kialakuló örvényeket.
A vortex can persist for a long time in a rotating fluid.
Egy örvény sokáig fennmaradhat egy forgó folyadékban.
Smoke made the airflow visible as a series of vortices.
Learner examples
A vortex is a spinning flow of air or water.
Az örvény a levegő vagy a víz forgó áramlása.
In science, people study vortices in fluids.
A tudományban örvényeket vizsgálnak a folyadékokban.
Common mistake:
In technical use, vortex refers to the rotating flow region, not just any turbulence.
Meaning
Rotating flow in physics
Collocations
vortex formation
|vortex flow
|vortex core
|wingtip vortices
|turbulent vortex
|vortex strength
|vortex dynamics
|vortex motion
|shed vortices
|vortex pattern
Synonyms
eddy (Often smaller and less structured than a vortex; commonly used for water flow.)
Antonyms
laminar flow (Smooth flow without swirling or rotation.)
Themes
science
|engineering
Definition
A spinning flow of liquid or gas, studied in science.
In physics, a region in a fluid where the flow rotates around an axis, often forming a swirling pattern.
Grammar
Dictionary form
vortex
IPA
GB/vˈɔɹtɛks/
US/vˈɔɹtɛks/
Syllables & stress
vor - tex (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (vor)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: vortex
- Plural: vortexes, vortices
Expressions
caught in a vortex
1/kˈɔt ˈɪn ə vˈɔɹtɛks/
idiom
Drawn into a hard situation
Stuck in a difficult, confusing situation.
Examples
- She felt caught in a vortex of meetings, emails, and deadlines.
- Once the argument went public, they were caught in a vortex of accusations.
Learner examples
- I was caught in a vortex of problems at work.
in the vortex of
1/ˈɪn ðə vˈɔɹtɛks əv/
fixed phrase
In the middle of intense activity
In the middle of something very busy or stressful.
Examples
- They met in the vortex of the campaign, when everyone was exhausted.
- In the vortex of the move, she forgot to update her address.
Learner examples
- I’m in the vortex of exams this week.
polar vortex
1/pˈoʊlɚ vˈɔɹtɛks/
fixed phrase
technical
large area of very cold polar air
A huge area of very cold air high above the polar region that sometimes moves south and brings very cold weather.
Examples
- A strong polar vortex is expected to bring record low temperatures to the region.
- News reports warned that the polar vortex would make travel dangerous.
- When the polar vortex weakens, icy air can spill into lower latitudes.
polar vortex
1/pˈoʊlɚ vˈɔɹtɛks/
fixed phrase
Cold-air system near the poles
A big system of very cold air near the North or South Pole.
Examples
- Forecasters warned that the polar vortex could push temperatures far below normal.
- When the polar vortex weakens, cold air can spill into lower latitudes.
Learner examples
- The polar vortex can bring very cold weather.
- The news talked about the polar vortex.