eddy

1 of 2

noun

ed·​dy ˈe-dē How to pronounce eddy (audio)
plural eddies
1
a
: a current of water or air running contrary to the main current
especially : a circular current : whirlpool
b
: something moving similarly
2
: a contrary or circular current (as of thought or policy)

eddy

2 of 2

verb

eddied; eddying

transitive verb

: to cause to move in an eddy

intransitive verb

: to move in an eddy or in the manner of an eddy

Examples of eddy in a Sentence

Noun The boat was caught in a powerful eddy. Verb The wind gusted and eddied around us. The waves swirled and eddied against the pier.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In physics, turbulence relates to strong, sudden movements within air or water, usually marked by eddies and vortices. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 Sep. 2024 As a common natural phenomenon observed in fluids — moving water, ocean currents, blood flow, billowing storm clouds and plumes of smoke — turbulent flow is chaotic, as larger swirls or eddies, form and break down into smaller ones. Katie Hunt, CNN, 19 Sep. 2024
Verb
The crowd eddied, some with batons dancing concentrically around the wheel of fire, others collecting around two young men in white. Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023 Soccer has a habit of undervaluing these sorts of cultural shifts, and as a result misunderstanding the currents that eddy and swirl around it, invisibly and inexorably shaping its reality. Rory Smith, New York Times, 23 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for eddy 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English (Scots) ydy, probably from Old Norse itha

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1810, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of eddy was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near eddy

Cite this Entry

“Eddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eddy. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

eddy

1 of 2 noun
ed·​dy ˈed-ē How to pronounce eddy (audio)
plural eddies
: a current of air or water running against the main current or in a circle

eddy

2 of 2 verb
eddied; eddying
: to move in an eddy or in a way that forms an eddy

Biographical Definition

Eddy

biographical name

Ed·​dy ˈe-dē How to pronounce Eddy (audio)
Mary (Morse) 1821–1910 née Baker American founder of the Christian Science Church
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