Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Modern Latin
Origin: Latin vertex, vortex; VERTEX

vortex

 noun
     
Related topics: Earth Sciences
vor‧tex plural vortices or vortexes [countable]
1HE a mass of wind or water that spins quickly and pulls things into its centre
2 [usually singular] written a situation that has a powerful effect on people's lives and that influences their behaviour, even if they do not want it to
vortex of
the vortex of emotions surrounding the case
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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