vertiginous

UK: /vɜː^rˈtɪdʒɪnəs/ US: /vɚˈtɪdʒənəs/ ,(vər tij′ə nəs)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ver•tig•i•nous /vɚˈtɪdʒənəs/   adj. 

1. whirling;
   spinning.
2. Pathology affected with or feeling vertigo.
3. likely to cause vertigo:
   a vertiginous climb.

See -vert-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ver•tig•i•nous  (vər tij′ə nəs), adj. 

1. whirling;
   spinning;
   rotary:
   vertiginous currents of air.
2. Physiology affected with vertigo;
   dizzy.
3. liable or threatening to cause vertigo:
   a vertiginous climb.
4. apt to change quickly;
   unstable:
   a vertiginous economy.

• Latin vertīginōsus dizzy, equivalent. to vertīgin- (stem of vertīgō) vertigo + -ōsus -ous
• 1600–10

ver•tig′i•nous•ly, adv. 
ver•tig′i•nous•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

vertiginous / vɜːˈtɪdʒɪnəs/ adjective

1. of, relating to, or having vertigo
2. producing dizziness
3. whirling
4. changeable; unstable

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin vertīginōsus, from vertigo

verˈtiginously adverb