WHIRLPOOL

Whirlpool

A whirlpool is a swirling body of water produced by the meeting of opposing currents. The vast majority of whirlpools are not very powerful. More powerful ones are properly termed maelstroms. Vortex is the proper term for any whirlpool that has a downdraft. Whirlpools in oceans are usually caused by tides. Very small whirlpools can easily be seen when a bath or a sink is draining, but these are produced in a very different manner from those in nature. Smaller whirlpools also appear at the base of many waterfalls. In the case of powerful waterfalls, like Niagara Falls, these whirlpools can be quite strong. The most powerful whirlpools are created ...

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Whirlpool
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

whirlpool

Noun

  1. a swirling body of water.
    A whirlpool is an instance of a vortex produced by ocean tides, or by a hole underneath where the water would drain out, such as in a bathtub.
  2. turmoil, or agitated excitement


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: whirlpool
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!