ETYM Latin turbulentia: cf. French turbulebce.
1. A state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally); SYN. upheaval, Sturm und Drang.
2. Instability in the atmosphere.
3. Unstable flow of a liquid or gas; SYN. turbulency.
Irregular fluid (gas or liquid) flow, in which vortices and unpredictable fluctuations and motions occur. Streamlining reduces the turbulence of flow around an object, such as an aircraft, and reduces drag. Turbulent flow of a fluid occurs when the Reynolds number is high.