Plain English Meaning

Tiny twin air-swirls that spin in opposite directions and stir up the air close to the wing's skin. This stirring keeps the airflow attached to the wing longer, so the wing keeps flying instead of stalling.

Full Definition

Pairs of small, tube-shaped swirls of air spinning in opposite directions, produced by vortex generators on a wing or control surface. Each pair re-energizes the boundary layer by mixing fast-moving air from above into the slower air clinging to the surface, delaying flow separation and stall.

Context Anchor

Seen in aerodynamics discussions of vortex generators, airflow separation, stalls, and control effectiveness.