vorticity
noun
vor·tic·i·ty
vȯr-ˈti-sə-tē 
1
: the state of a fluid in vortical motion
broadly
: vortical motion
2
: a measure of vortical motion
especially
: a vector measure of local rotation in a fluid flow
Examples of vorticity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The location of jet streams, low pressure systems, regions of spin (vorticity), thermal ridges, and other processes changes over time.
—
Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
The leading-edge comb stirs the air in a specific way called micro vorticity.
—Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Like today, the temperature differential between ground level and clouds can be amplified by vorticity, creating some frozen precipitation (graupel snow grains) even with temperatures around or slightly above 50 degrees!
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024
That allowed some of the winds to curl into an eddy of vorticity, or counterclockwise spin, which was enough to cook up a storm.
—Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2023
On either periphery of that little jet of winds, small eddies of vorticity, or spin, were able to roll away.
—Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023
In the case of Sandy, forecasters monitored a higher-order variable called potential vorticity, a measure of a weather system's swirl, to help predict the storm's future development.
—Ian Roulstone, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2013
Radio beam vorticity and orbital angular momentum.
—Edwin Cartlidge, Discover Magazine, 10 Oct. 2011
High vorticity often means stronger storms.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2022
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Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
The leading-edge comb stirs the air in a specific way called micro vorticity.
—Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Like today, the temperature differential between ground level and clouds can be amplified by vorticity, creating some frozen precipitation (graupel snow grains) even with temperatures around or slightly above 50 degrees!
—A. Camden Walker, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024
That allowed some of the winds to curl into an eddy of vorticity, or counterclockwise spin, which was enough to cook up a storm.
—Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2023
On either periphery of that little jet of winds, small eddies of vorticity, or spin, were able to roll away.
—Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023
In the case of Sandy, forecasters monitored a higher-order variable called potential vorticity, a measure of a weather system's swirl, to help predict the storm's future development.
—Ian Roulstone, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2013
Radio beam vorticity and orbital angular momentum.
—Edwin Cartlidge, Discover Magazine, 10 Oct. 2011
High vorticity often means stronger storms.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Vorticity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vorticity. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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