Definition of "vortex"

An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex. The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.

2013 March, Frank Fish, George Lauder, “Not Just Going with the Flow”, in American Scientist‎, volume 101, number 2, archived from the original on 1 May 2013, page 114

It’s hard to imagine that there is any major American clothing brand that does not have a store in the consumer vortex that is East Hampton; […]

2004 August 30, Rebecca Mead, “Flip-Flop Emergency”, in The New Yorker‎, page 38

Montreal in the summer is a vortex of decadent food, 24-ounce cocktails and carefree people. We reveled in it, danced, swam in fountains.

2014 May 30, Will Butler, “The Mark of Cane”, in The New York Times Magazine‎

In early youth, the living drama acted around me, drew my heart and soul into its vortex.

1826, [Mary Shelley], chapter I, in The Last Man. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], page 17

Novv ſhou'd it happen that any of theſe Sun-like Bodies in the Centers of the ſeveral Vortices ſhou'd be ſo incruſtated and vveaken'd, as to be carried about in the Vortex of the true Sun, if it vvere of leſs Solidity, or leſs capable of Motion than the Globules, tovvards the extremity of the Solar Vortex, then it vvou'd deſcend tovvard the Sun, till it met vvith Globules of the ſame Solidity, and capable of the ſame degree of Motion vvith it, and being fixt there, it vvou'd for ever be carried about by the Motion of the Vortex, vvithout either approaching to, or receding from the Sun, and ſo become a Planet.

1705, George Cheyne, “Of the Physical Laws, and the Uniform Appearances of Nature. Law III. Corollary V.”, in Philosophical Principles of Natural Religion: […], London: […] George Strahan […], § XXII, page 32