渦巻(うずま)き

うずまき
noun
spiral; swirl; whirlpool
1. spiral; swirl; whirlpool
A coiling, circular pattern or motion turning in toward a center, as in water swirling down a drain or a spiral shape.
煙(けむり)が渦巻(うずま)きを作(つく)った。
The smoke formed a swirl.
This shell has a spiral shape.
The river water hit the rocks and was forming whirlpools.

The noun form of 渦巻(うずま)く (to swirl, to eddy), formed from 渦(うず) (eddy) + 巻(ま)き (winding). Used for both physical swirls of water or smoke and spiral shapes or patterns.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 渦(うず): eddy; swirl — the shorter, more general word; 渦巻(うずま)き emphasizes the coiling, winding shape