1. A powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)
   "The ship struggled to escape the deadly vortex";
   - whirlpool, maelstrom
    
2. The shape of something rotating rapidly
   "The cream formed a vortex on top of the coffee";
   - whirl, swirl, convolution

Derived forms: vortices, vortexes

Type of: current, round shape, stream

Encyclopedia: Vortex, the Face of Medusa