Miniature whirlpools (6)
I believe the answer is:
eddies
'miniature whirlpools' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for eddies that I've seen before include "round flowers" , "Miniature whirpools" , "Miniature whirlpools" , "They flow against the main stream" , "Turbulent movements" .)