Maelstrom: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Maelstrom noun. A powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river.
How to say it
MAYL-struhm/ˈmeɪlstrəm/
2 syllables, stressed on the first (MAYL).
Meanings
- A powerful whirlpool in the sea or a river.
- A scene of violent confusion.
Maelstrom in a sentence
Sailors have long feared the maelstrom that forms off the islands when the tide turns.
The trading floor was a maelstrom of shouting, ringing phones and flickering screens.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- whirlpool
- vortex
- turmoil
- chaos
Opposite:
- calm
Where maelstrom comes from
From early Dutch maelstroom, from malen, to grind or whirl, plus stroom, stream.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The trading floor was a _____ of shouting, ringing phones and flickering screens.
- petrichor
- loam
- maelstrom
Show the answer
maelstrom: The trading floor was a maelstrom of shouting, ringing phones and flickering screens.