A circular or spiral motion; to whirl or move in a circle or spiral. In oceanography, a large system of circular ocean currents.
From Latin 'gyrus' (circle), from Greek 'gyros' (ring/circle). Yeats immortalized it: 'Turning and turning in the widening gyre.' Same root as gyroscope and gyrate.
Yeats started his most famous poem with 'Turning and turning in the widening gyre!' Oceans have giant gyres — circular currents spanning entire ocean basins. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch sits in one. Poetry meets oceanography! 🌀🌊
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