eddy

Meaning

Noun

1. A current of air or water running back, or in an opposite direction to the main current.
2. A circular current; a whirlpool.

Verb

To form an eddy; to move in, or as if in, an eddy; to move in a circle.

Synonyms

whirlpool

vortex

swirl

whirl

whirlwind

twist

maelstrom

dust devil

curl

purl

tornado

🌪️

turbulence

twirl

whirling current

wreath

remous

circular blowing wind

weel

eddy flow

erratic current

vortexing

eddy-current

coil

flow in vortex

current

eddying

gyrate

gyroscope

hurly-burly

perish

ripple

ruined

stream

Translations

remolino

tourbillon

Wirbel

torbellino

Strudel

mulinello

remous

gorgo

vórtice

contre-courant

vortice

maalstroom

Wirbelwind

tourbillonner

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɛd.i/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: eddy

Inherited from Old English: edēa

Cognate with Latin: et

Cognate with Danish: ide

Cognate with Swedish: eda

Cognate with Norwegian: ida

Cognate with Icelandic: iða

In summary

From Middle English eddy, from Old English edēa, from ed- (“turning, back, reverse”) + ēa (“water”), equivalent to ed- + ea. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁é, and, consequently, cognate with Latin et. Related also to Danish ide (“eddy”), Swedish eda (“eddy”), Norwegian ida, ia, ea (“eddy”), Icelandic iða (“eddy”).