ed|dy

ed|dy «EHD ee», noun, plural -dies, verb, -died, -dy|ing.

–n.

1. a small whirlpool or whirlwind; water, air, or smoke moving against the main current, especially when having a whirling motion: »

Cyclonic circulations can exist on widely varying scales, from eddies of minute size up to stable lows covering millions of square miles (R. W. James).

2. any similar current of fog or dust.

3. Figurative. anything thought to resemble this.

–v.i., v.t.

to whirl; move in circles: »

The water eddied out of the sink. Figurative. Union stragglers crossing Rappahannock,…caught the mood of confusion that eddied in rear of countless battles (Time).

SYNONYM(S): swirl.

╂[perhaps < Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic itha)]