eddy
/ˈedi/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɛdi] /ˈedi/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈɛdi] /ˈe-dē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈed.i/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɛdi] /ˈed.i/ (ame, ipa)
eddy — noun
- eddysingular
- eddiesplural
1. a small swirl of water, air, smoke, or dust that turns quickly in a circle as it
a small swirl of water, air, smoke, or dust that turns quickly in a circle as it moves, often where the main flow is interrupted by something
Rafael watched leaves spin around in a small eddy at the edge of the river.
noun: an eddy at the edge of [body of water]
The wind made tiny eddies of dust dance across the dry farmyard.
collocation: eddies of dust / smoke / air
Smoke from the campfire rose in slow eddies between the tall pine trees.
Kayakers near Anong learned to spot dangerous eddies behind the large rocks.
文法句型
an eddy of [substance]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a moving fluid (water, air, smoke) or fine particles (dust, leaves). The eddy usually forms where the main current meets an obstacle or boundary.
常見錯誤
2. a moment or pocket of fast, busy activity within a larger setting — used in a fi
a moment or pocket of fast, busy activity within a larger setting — used in a figurative way, as if events were swirling like water
An eddy of gossip swept through the office after Élise resigned without warning.
figurative collocation: an eddy of gossip / rumour / talk
Christopher stepped into a small eddy of reporters waiting outside the courthouse.
An eddy of excitement ran through the crowd when the singer reached the stage.
Min watched a noisy eddy of school children flow past her cafe table.
- lull
the opposite — a quiet pause in busy activity
文法句型
an eddy of [activity/emotion]
用法筆記
Mostly literary or journalistic. Distinguish from sense 1: here the 'fluid' is people, talk, or emotion, not water or air. Often used with verbs of flow (swept, flowed, moved).
eddy — verb
- eddypresent simple I / you / we / they
- eddies3rd person singular
- eddying-ing form
- eddiedpast simple
1. to turn rapidly in small circles instead of moving forward in a straight line —
to turn rapidly in small circles instead of moving forward in a straight line — said of liquids, gases, or anything flowing such as water, air, or smoke
The river eddied around the large rock in the middle of the stream.
collocation: [fluid] eddies around [obstacle]
Cold air eddied through the broken window and made Talia shiver at her desk.
pattern: [air] eddied through [opening]
Smoke from the candles eddied upward toward the high ceiling of the church.
Dry leaves eddied across the empty playground after Nellie went inside.
- flow
moves smoothly in one direction rather than in circles
文法句型
[fluid/particles] eddy
eddy around/through/over [place]
用法筆記
Subject is always a fluid or fine particles. Often followed by a preposition of direction (around, through, across, over). Never used with a direct object in this sense.
常見錯誤
2. to advance toward a destination as part of a crowd while individuals shift posit
to advance toward a destination as part of a crowd while individuals shift positions around each other along the way, the way water turns as it flows
Tourists eddied through the narrow streets of the old market town all morning.
pattern: [group] eddied through [narrow place]
The football fans eddied toward the stadium gates an hour before kickoff.
collocation: [crowd] eddied toward [destination]
Shoppers eddied around Emre and his stall of fresh bread near the square.
Children eddied out of the school gates as soon as the final bell rang.
文法句型
[group of people] eddy + adverb of place
用法筆記
Subject must be a plural group noun (crowds, tourists, fans, children). Distinguish from sense 1: the 'fluid' here is the people themselves, and a directional preposition (through, toward, around, out of) is almost always required.
3. if thoughts, feelings, or pieces of news eddy, they appear and disappear in larg
if thoughts, feelings, or pieces of news eddy, they appear and disappear in large amounts without settling on one clear shape or conclusion
Rumours about the new boss eddied through the staffroom for several weeks.
abstract subject: rumours / news eddy through [place]
Doubts eddied in Vivek's mind as he stood at the door of the exam hall.
pattern: [emotion] eddied in [person]'s mind
Old memories eddied around Tariro every time she returned to her grandmother's village.
Excitement eddied through the crowd as Ramón took the microphone to start his speech.
文法句型
[abstract thing] eddies
用法筆記
Subject is abstract: rumours, doubts, emotions, memories. Cross-sense disambiguation: differs from sense 1 (physical fluid) and sense 2 (a moving crowd) — here nothing visible is moving.