vortex theory

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Datamuse reports no synonyms or antonyms for this word.

Noun

1. {{lb|en|physics|historical}} An obsolete [[scientific]] [[theory]], chiefly developed by {{w|René Descartes}}, which attempted to explain [[celestial mechanics]] and the [[phenomenon|phenomena]] now described as [[gravitation]] by [[posit]]ing a system of [[fluid]] [[vortex|vortices]] governed by [[centrifugal force]]s and extending outwards from the [[sun]].
2. The {{w|vortex theory of the atom}}: a theory by {{w|William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin|Lord Kelvin}}, to explain why there are relatively few types of atom, but a huge number of each type.
3. {{&lit|en|vortex|theory}}

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