MAELSTROM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does maelstrom mean? 

• MAELSTROM (noun)
  The noun MAELSTROM has 1 sense:

1. a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)

  Familiarity information: MAELSTROM used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MAELSTROM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

maelstrom; vortex; whirlpool

Hypernyms ("maelstrom" is a kind of...):

current; stream (a steady flow of a fluid (usually from natural causes))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "maelstrom"):

Charybdis ((Greek mythology) a ship-devouring whirlpool lying on the other side of a narrow strait from Scylla)

 Context examples 

Four days in hell, knocking about in a sort of maelstrom, and the wind a tempest. No sleep for any one. Men all worn out. Hardly know how to set a watch, since no one fit to go on.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)