Spiral vs. Vortex

Spiralnoun

(geometry) A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.

Spiralnoun

(informal) A helix.

Spiralnoun

A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.

Spiraladjective

Helical, like a spiral

Spiralverb

(intransitive) To move along the path of a spiral or helix.

Spiralverb

(transitive) To cause something to spiral.

Spiralverb

To increase continually.

Spiraladjective

Winding or circling round a center or pole and gradually receding from it; as, the spiral curve of a watch spring.

Spiraladjective

Winding round a cylinder or imaginary axis, and at the same time rising or advancing forward; winding like the thread of a screw; helical.

Spiraladjective

Of or pertaining to a spiral; like a spiral.

Spiralnoun

A plane curve, not reëntrant, described by a point, called the generatrix, moving along a straight line according to a mathematical law, while the line is revolving about a fixed point called the pole. Cf. Helix.

Spiralnoun

Anything which has a spiral form, as a spiral shell.

Spiralnoun

a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at ever-greater distances from it

Spiralnoun

a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle

Spiralnoun

ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center

Spiralnoun

a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops;

Spiralnoun

flying downward in a helical path with a large radius

Spiralverb

to wind or move in a spiral course;

Spiralverb

form a spiral;

Spiralverb

move in a spiral or zigzag course

Spiraladjective

in the shape of a coil

Spiral

In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving farther away as it revolves around the point.

Vortexnoun

A whirlwind, whirlpool, or similarly moving matter in the form of a spiral or column.

Vortexnoun

(figuratively) Anything that involves constant violent or chaotic activity around some centre.

Vortexnoun

(figuratively) Anything that inevitably draws surrounding things into its current.

Vortexnoun

(historical) A supposed collection of particles of very subtle matter, endowed with a rapid rotary motion around an axis which was also the axis of a sun or planet; part of a Cartesian theory accounting for the formation of the universe, and the movements of the bodies composing it.

Vortexnoun

(zoology) Any of numerous species of small Turbellaria belonging to Vortex and allied genera.

Vortexnoun

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.

Vortexnoun

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.

Vortexnoun

Any one of numerous species of small Turbellaria belonging to Vortex and allied genera. See Illustration in Appendix.

Vortexnoun

the shape of something rotating rapidly

Vortexnoun

a powerful circular current of water (usually the resulting of conflicting tides)

Vortexnoun

a whirling mass of fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind

Vortex

In fluid dynamics, a vortex (plural vortices/vortexes) is a region in a fluid in which the flow revolves around an axis line, which may be straight or curved. Vortices form in stirred fluids, and may be observed in smoke rings, whirlpools in the wake of a boat, and the winds surrounding a tropical cyclone, tornado or dust devil.