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Maelstrom

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The definition of a maelstrom is a violent, turbulent situation, or a very powerful whirlpool.

(noun)

An example of a maelstrom was the uprising in Egypt against the former leader, Hosni Mubarak.

See Maelstrom in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a famous strong, swirling tidal current off the W coast of Norway, hazardous to safe navigation
any large or violent whirlpool
a violently confused or dangerously agitated state of mind, emotion, affairs, etc.

Origin: 17th-c. Du (now maalstroom) < malen, to grind, whirl round (akin to Ger mahlen: see mill) + stroom, a stream: first applied by 16th-c. Du geographers

See Maelstrom in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun