Gyre vs. Vortex — What's the Difference?

A circular or spiral motion or form, especially a circular ocean current.

In fluid dynamics, a vortex (plural vortices/vortexes) is a region in a fluid in which the flow revolves around an axis line, which may be straight or curved. Vortices form in stirred fluids, and may be observed in smoke rings, whirlpools in the wake of a boat, and the winds surrounding a tropical cyclone, tornado or dust devil.

To whirl.

A whirling mass of fluid or air, especially a whirlpool or whirlwind

A swirling vortex.

A whirling mass of water or air that sucks everything near it toward its center.

A circular or spiral motion; also, a circle described by a moving body; a revolution, a turn.

A place or situation regarded as drawing into its center all that surrounds it, and hence being inescapable or destructive

Synonym of gyrus

A whirlwind, whirlpool, or similarly moving matter in the form of a spiral or column.

(oceanography) An ocean current caused by wind which moves in a circular manner, especially one that is large-scale and observed in a major ocean.

(figuratively) Anything that involves constant violent or chaotic activity around some centre.

(intransitive) To spin around; to gyrate, to whirl.

(figuratively) Anything that inevitably draws surrounding things into its current.

To make (something) spin or whirl around; to spin, to whirl.

(historical) A supposed collection of particles of very subtle matter, endowed with a rapid rotary motion around an axis which was also the axis of a sun or planet; part of a Cartesian theory accounting for the formation of the universe, and the movements of the bodies composing it.

A circular motion, or a circle described by a moving body; a turn or revolution; a circuit.

(zoology) Any of numerous species of small Turbellaria belonging to Vortex and allied genera.

To turn round; to gyrate.

(chemistry) To mix using a vortex mixer

A round shape formed by a series of concentric circles

A mass of fluid, especially of a liquid, having a whirling or circular motion tending to form a cavity or vacuum in the center of the circle, and to draw in towards the center bodies subject to its action; the form assumed by a fluid in such motion; a whirlpool; an eddy.

A supposed collection of particles of very subtile matter, endowed with a rapid rotary motion around an axis which was also the axis of a sun or a planet. Descartes attempted to account for the formation of the universe, and the movements of the bodies composing it, by a theory of vortices.

Any one of numerous species of small Turbellaria belonging to Vortex and allied genera. See Illustration in Appendix.

The shape of something rotating rapidly

A powerful circular current of water (usually the resulting of conflicting tides)