英语词汇“maelstrom”的英英意思、用法、释义、翻译、读音、例句、短语、词组-英语词典

A maelstrom is a powerful whirlpool. A luckless ship might go down in one, conflicting ocean currents might cause one. You hear it more often metaphorically, to describe disasters where many competing forces are at play.

When an economy or a government fails, the situation is often described as a maelstrom. Following some precipitous event, all the forces at play––banks, governments, consumers––are trying as hard as they can to protect themselves. This creates a maelstrom — a perfect storm, so to speak — that drags any potential for rescue down with it. Maelstrom comes from an obsolete Dutch phrase meaning "whirling stream."

VOCABULARY SHOUT-OUT

"Maelstrom" Writ Large on Park Avenue Through July

Anyone traveling New York City's Park Avenue this spring will have the chance to contemplate the meaning of the word maelstrom, thanks to a sculpture by artist Alice Aycock currently being installed on the avenue's median.

Alice Aycock's "Maelstrom." Credit Richard Perry/The New York Times

Described by the The New York Times as "a spiky assemblage of aluminum ribbons that stretches for some 70 feet," "Maelstrom" is part of "Park Avenue Paper Chase," Aycock's installation of large-scale works in white bands of aluminum or fiberglass, inspired (again, according to the Times) "variously by tornadoes, dance movements and drapery folds."

"The notion is that there is this big wind that moves up and down the avenue, and that it makes the forms or blows the forms and leaves it in its wake," said Ms. Aycock.

So what kind of a windy form is a maelstrom? Let's take a closer look.

A maelstrom is the kind of "whirlpool" in which sailors and ships famously disappear. Over time, its meaning has stretched to include non-acquatic, but similarly dire, confused, or not-looking-good-for-our-hero situations, such that maelstrom can now describe a sinking economy, a devolving dinner party, or a classroom gone feral under the guidance of a substitute teacher.

This enhanced meaning is perfectly embodied in Aycock's confused, swirling form. What better way to both understand and remember what maelstrom means than giving it a long, hard look?

Aycock's show is presented by the Sculpture Committee of the Fund for Park Avenue and New York’s Department of Parks and Recreation and will be on display through July 20 of this year.

WORD FAMILY

maelstrom: maelstroms

USAGE EXAMPLES

There is a danger that, in the maelstrom of day-to-day policy delivery, scientific input will be reduced to a mere technical instrument.

Nature(Dec 19, 2016)

Many of the postings appear to be lifted from other conspiracy websites, repackaged and launched back into the social-media maelstrom.

Seattle Times(Dec 17, 2016)

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police major responded, and walked directly into a maelstrom.

Washington Times(Dec 11, 2016)

n a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)

Syn|Hypo|Hyper

vortex, whirlpool

Charybdis

(Greek mythology) a ship-devouring whirlpool lying on the other side of a narrow strait from Scylla

current, stream

a steady flow of a fluid (usually from natural causes)

单词	maelstrom
释义	maelstrom (once / 7567 pages) n A maelstrom is a powerful whirlpool. A luckless ship might go down in one, conflicting ocean currents might cause one. You hear it more often metaphorically, to describe disasters where many competing forces are at play. When an economy or a government fails, the situation is often described as a maelstrom. Following some precipitous event, all the forces at play––banks, governments, consumers––are trying as hard as they can to protect themselves. This creates a maelstrom — a perfect storm, so to speak — that drags any potential for rescue down with it. Maelstrom comes from an obsolete Dutch phrase meaning "whirling stream." VOCABULARY SHOUT-OUT "Maelstrom" Writ Large on Park Avenue Through July Anyone traveling New York City's Park Avenue this spring will have the chance to contemplate the meaning of the word maelstrom, thanks to a sculpture by artist Alice Aycock currently being installed on the avenue's median. Alice Aycock's "Maelstrom." Credit Richard Perry/The New York Times Described by the The New York Times as "a spiky assemblage of aluminum ribbons that stretches for some 70 feet," "Maelstrom" is part of "Park Avenue Paper Chase," Aycock's installation of large-scale works in white bands of aluminum or fiberglass, inspired (again, according to the Times) "variously by tornadoes, dance movements and drapery folds." "The notion is that there is this big wind that moves up and down the avenue, and that it makes the forms or blows the forms and leaves it in its wake," said Ms. Aycock. So what kind of a windy form is a maelstrom? Let's take a closer look. A maelstrom is the kind of "whirlpool" in which sailors and ships famously disappear. Over time, its meaning has stretched to include non-acquatic, but similarly dire, confused, or not-looking-good-for-our-hero situations, such that maelstrom can now describe a sinking economy, a devolving dinner party, or a classroom gone feral under the guidance of a substitute teacher. This enhanced meaning is perfectly embodied in Aycock's confused, swirling form. What better way to both understand and remember what maelstrom means than giving it a long, hard look? Aycock's show is presented by the Sculpture Committee of the Fund for Park Avenue and New York’s Department of Parks and Recreation and will be on display through July 20 of this year. WORD FAMILY maelstrom: maelstroms USAGE EXAMPLES There is a danger that, in the maelstrom of day-to-day policy delivery, scientific input will be reduced to a mere technical instrument. Nature(Dec 19, 2016) Many of the postings appear to be lifted from other conspiracy websites, repackaged and launched back into the social-media maelstrom. Seattle Times(Dec 17, 2016) The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police major responded, and walked directly into a maelstrom. Washington Times(Dec 11, 2016) n a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides) Syn\|Hypo\|Hyper vortex, whirlpool Charybdis (Greek mythology) a ship-devouring whirlpool lying on the other side of a narrow strait from Scylla current, stream a steady flow of a fluid (usually from natural causes)
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