polar vortex

American

[poh-ler vawr-teks] / ˈpoʊ lər ˈvɔr tɛks /

noun

plural

polar vortices, polar vortexes

a whirling mass of very cold air that sits over the North or South Pole.

A displaced polar vortex is causing Arctic temperatures across the United States.

Etymology

Origin of polar vortex

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But sometimes a disturbance can cause the polar vortex to stretch like a rubber band.

From Slate

In the months since, the polar vortex has been stuck in a cycle of stretching, snapping back, and stretching again, contributing to the bone-chilling temperatures.

From Slate

And probably all the snow: Recent research by Cohen found that polar vortex stretches align with the heaviest and deepest snowfalls.

From Slate

Our polar vortex is being pummeled by a “wrestling tag team,” says Cohen.

From Slate

As the days get longer, the sun gets stronger, and the temperatures rise—also weakening the polar vortex.

From Slate

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023