Eddy
Noun
Definition: A circular or spiral movement of air or water, especially one that creates a small whirlpool.
Synonyms: Whirlpool, Vortex, Swirl
Antonyms: Calm, Stillness
- The strong wind created an eddy in the river.
- I watched the leaves swirling in the eddy of the stream.
- Picture a whirlpool or vortex when thinking of eddy.
- The word eddy rhymes with ready, and you can think of an eddy as a swirling motion getting ready to suck things in.
Etymology:
Middle English 'edyen', from Old English 'ēðian', related to Old High German 'walzen', meaning "to roll, to wander".
Historical Usage:The term eddy has been used since Middle English to describe a swirling movement of air or water.
Related Idioms:
"Caught in an eddy"
Explanation:Refers to being trapped or caught in a swirling or circular current, often used figuratively to describe being stuck in a repetitive or unproductive cycle.
Misconceptions:
Considering an eddy as a synonym for a whirlwind or tornado.
Explanation:While eddies and whirlwinds may share similarities in their swirling motions, an eddy typically occurs in a contained area such as a river or stream, while a whirlwind or tornado is a much larger and more powerful atmospheric phenomenon.