volutes









volutes


noun

  1. a spiral or twisted formation or object.
  2. Architecture. a spiral ornament, found especially in the capitals of the Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite orders.
  3. Carpentry. a horizontal scrolled termination to the handrail of a stair.
  4. Zoology.
    1. a turn or whorl of a spiral shell.
    2. any of various tropical marine gastropods of the family Volutidae, many species of which have shells prized for their coloration.
  5. the spiral casing surrounding the impeller of a volute pump.

adjective

  1. having a volute or rolled-up form.
  2. Machinery.
    1. spirally shaped or having a part so shaped.
    2. moving in a circular way, especially if combined with a lateral motion.

noun

  1. a spiral or twisting turn, form, or object; spiral; whorl
  2. Also called: helix a carved ornament, esp as used on an Ionic capital, that has the form of a spiral scroll
  3. any of the whorls of the spirally coiled shell of a snail or similar gastropod mollusc
  4. any tropical marine gastropod mollusc of the family Volutidae, typically having a spiral shell with beautiful markings
  5. 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

adjective also: voluted (vəˈluːtɪd)

  1. having the form of a volute; spiral
  2. machinery moving in a spiral path
n.

1690s, “spiral ornament on an Ionic capital,” from French volute, from Italian voluta, from Latin voluta “a spiral scroll,” originally fem. past participle of volvere “to turn around, roll” (see volvox). Extended 1756 to any spiral thing or part. As a type of spiral seashell, it is attested from 1753.

adj.

  1. Rolled up; convoluted.
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