Helices

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Helix \He"lix\, n.; pl. L. {Helices}, E. {Helixes}. [L. helix,
     Gr. ?, ?, fr. ? to turn round; cf. L. volvere, and E. volute,
     voluble.]
     1. (Geom.) A nonplane curve whose tangents are all equally
        inclined to a given plane. The common helix is the curve
        formed by the thread of the ordinary screw. It is


        distinguished from the spiral, all the convolutions of
        which are in the plane.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Arch.) A caulicule or little volute under the abacus of
        the Corinthian capital.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Anat.) The incurved margin or rim of the external ear.
        See Illust. of {Ear}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Zool.) A genus of land snails, including a large number
        of species.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The genus originally included nearly all shells, but is
           now greatly restricted. See {Snail}, {Pulmonifera}.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  helix
       n 1: a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and
            cuts the element at a constant angle [syn: {spiral}]
       2: a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous
          series of loops; "a coil of rope" [syn: {coil}, {spiral},
          {volute}, {whorl}]
       3: type genus of the family Helicidae [syn: {genus Helix}]
       [also: {helices} (pl)]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  helices
       See {helix}