An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A state of hydrodynamic → flow in which the velocity at each point fluctuates rapidly and randomly so that only statistical properties can be recognized and subjected to analysis. Turbulence is the most striking manifestation of the non-linear nature of the laws of hydrodynamics, with the irregularity of flows increasing with the → Reynolds number measuring the strength of non-linear effects. The regime of intermediate Reynolds numbers corresponds to a highly non-universal regime of the onset of turbulence, whereas high Reynolds numbers, common in practical situations, characterize the regime of → developed turbulence. → laminar flow; → chaos.

Etymology (EN): From L. turbulentia, from turbulentus “full of commotion, restless,” from turba “turmoil, crowd;” maybe related to
Pers. târ “dark, obscure, cloudy,” Laki tur “balk, refractory, restive.”

Etymology (PE): šubnâki, from âšub “turmoil, disturbance,” âšoftan “to agitate, disturb;” Mid.Pers. âšôb “confusion, turmoil,” âšoftan “to destroy, disturb;” Av. xšuf- “to tremble;” cf. Skt. ksobh- “to stagger, begin to swing, tremble;” Pol. chybac “to rock, move to and fro;” Lith. skubus “hasty, fast;” Goth. afskiuban “to shove;” O.E. scufan “to shove;” PIE base *k^(w)seub^h-,

• -nâk state suffix, -i noun suffix.