Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
Madura
Madurai
maduro
madwoman
madwort
Mae West
Maecenas
Maelstrom
maelstrom
maenad
maestoso
Maestricht
maestro
maestro di cappella
Mafeking
MAFF
Mafia
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "maelstrom" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

maelstrom

mael·strom [ máylstrəm ] (plural mael·stroms)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. whirlpool: an exceptionally large or violent whirlpool

2. turbulent or violent situation: a situation marked by confusion, turbulence, strong feelings, violence, or destruction

[Late 17th century. < early modern Dutch, < maalen "whirl round" + stroom "stream"]
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft