Lewis & Short

vertex (vortex; cf. Quint. 1, 7, 25 The archaic form vortex was already disused in Cicero’s time; cf. Ribbeck, Prol. Verg. 436 sq.; id. G. 1, 481 n. Wagn. The grammarian Caper distinguishes thus: vortex fluminis est, vertex capitis; but this distinction was unknown in the class. per.; v. Charis. p. 68), ĭcis, m. [verto].

  1. I. A whirl, eddy, whirlpool, vortex: secundo modo dicitur proprium inter plura, quae sunt ejusdem nominis, id, unde cetera ducta sunt: ut vertex est contorta in se aqua vel quicquid aliud similiter vertitur: inde propter flexum capillorum pars summa capitis; ex hoc id, quod in montibus eminentissimum. Recte dixeris haec omnia vertices, proprie tamen, unde initium est, Quint. 8, 2, 7: ut aquae circumlatae in se sorbeantur et vorticem efficiant, Sen. Q. N. 5, 13, 2: torto vertice torrens, Verg. A. 7, 567: illam … rapidus vorat aequore vertex, id. ib. 1, 117: (flumen) minores volvere vertices, Hor. C. 2, 9, 22; Ov. M. 5, 587; 8, 556; 9, 106; id. F. 6, 502; Sil. 4, 230: citatior solito amnis transverso vertice dolia inpulit ad ripam, Liv. 23, 19, 11; 28, 30, 11; Curt. 6, 13, 16.
    1. B. Trop.: amoris, Cat. 68, 107: officiorum, Sen. Ep. 82, 2: quā medius pugnae vocat agmina vertex, Sil. 4, 230.
  2. II. An eddy of wind or flame, a whirlwind, coil of flame: (venti) interdum vertice torto Corripiunt rapideque rotanti turbine portant, Lucr. 1, 293; 6, 444; Liv. 21, 58, 3: extemplo cadit igneus ille Vertex, Lucr. 6, 298; Verg. A. 12, 673; cf.: ventus saepius in se volutatur, similemque illis, quas diximus converti aquas, facit vorticem, Sen. Q. N. 5, 13, 2.
  3. III. The top or crown of the head.
    1. A. Lit.: ab imis unguibus usque ad verticem summum, Cic. Rosc. Com. 7, 20; cf. Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 4; Plin. 11, 37, 48, § 132; Hor. C. 1, 1, 36; Ov. M. 12, 288; 2, 712; id. P. 3, 8, 12; Quint. 8, 2, 7; 1, 11, 10.
    2. B. Transf.
      1. 1. The head (poet.) Cat. 64, 63; 64, 310: toto vertice supra est, Verg. A. 7, 784: nudus, id. ib. 11, 642: moribundus, Ov. M. 5, 84: intonsus, Stat. Th. 6, 607; Val. Fl. 4, 307.
      2. 2. The pole of the heavens, Cic. poët. N. D. 2, 41, 105; id. Rep. 6, 20, 21; Verg. G. 1, 242.
      3. 3. The highest point, top, peak, summit of a mountain, house, tree, etc.: ignes, qui ex Aetnae vertice erumpunt, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 48, § 106; Quint. 8, 3, 48; Lucr. 6, 467; Tib. 1, 7, 15; Ov. M. 1. 316; 13, 911; Petr. poët. 122; 134 fin.; Curt. 8, 3, 26: in Erycino vertice, Verg. A. 5, 759; Val. Fl. 1, 700: arcis, Lucr. 6, 750: domus, Mart. 8, 36, 11; cf. Hor. C. 4, 11, 12: theatri, Mart. 10, 19, 7: quercūs, Verg. A. 3, 679: pinūs, Ov. M. 10, 103.
        Hence, a vertice, from above, down from above, Verg. G. 2, 310; id. A. 1, 114; 5, 444.
        1. b. Trop., the highest, uttermost, greatest (poet.): dolorum anxiferi vertices, Cic. poët. Tusc. 2, 9, 21: principiorum, the highest officers, Amm. 15, 5, 16: Alexandria enim vertex omnium est civitatum, id. 22, 16, 7.