volute
vo·lute
(və-lo͞ot′)n.
1. A spiral scroll-like ornament such as that used on an Ionic capital.
2.
a. A spiral formation, such as one of the whorls of a gastropod shell.
b. Any of various marine gastropod mollusks of the family Volutidae, having a spiral, often colorfully marked shell.
[French, from Italian voluta, from Latin volūta, from feminine past participle of volvere, to turn, roll; see wel- in Indo-European roots.]
vo·lut′ed (-lo͞o′tĭd) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
volute
(ˈvɒljuːt; vəˈluːt)n
1. a spiral or twisting turn, form, or object; spiral; whorl
2. (Architecture) Also called: helix a carved ornament, esp as used on an Ionic capital, that has the form of a spiral scroll
3. (Zoology) any of the whorls of the spirally coiled shell of a snail or similar gastropod mollusc
4. (Animals) any tropical marine gastropod mollusc of the family Volutidae, typically having a spiral shell with beautiful markings
5. (General Engineering) a tangential part, resembling the volute of a snail's shell, that collects the fluids emerging from the periphery of a turbine, impeller pump, etc
adj
6. having the form of a volute; spiral
7. (Mechanical Engineering) machinery moving in a spiral path
[C17: from Latin volūta a spiral decoration, from volūtus rolled, from volvere to roll up]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
vo•lute
(vəˈlut)n.
1. a spiral or twisted formation or object.
2. a spiral ornament, found esp. on the capitals of the Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite orders.
3. a horizontal scrolled termination to the handrail of a stair.
4.
a. a turn or whorl of a spiral shell.
b. any of various tropical marine gastropods of the family Volutidae, many having vivid shells.
5. having a volute or rolled-up form.
6. spirally shaped.
[1690–1700; (< French) < Latin volūta, past participle of volvere to turn. See revolve]
vo•lut′ed, adj.
vo•lu′tion, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.