Plain English Meaning

Spinning tubes of air that come off the tips of a wing whenever an aircraft is making lift. They trail behind the aircraft and can roll a smaller plane that flies into them.

Full Definition

Circular patterns of air created by the movement of an airfoil through the air when generating lift. As an aircraft's wings produce lift, higher-pressure air beneath the wing spills around the wingtips into the lower-pressure area above, forming spiraling masses of rotating air that trail behind each wingtip. These wingtip vortices are the principal component of wake turbulence and can be hazardous to aircraft following or crossing the flight path of a larger aircraft.

Context Anchor

Seen in wake turbulence discussions, and spacing, and cautions about flying behind another aircraft.