Volute

3 definitions found

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

  Volute \Vo*lute"\, n. [F. volute (cf. It. voluta), L. voluta,
     from volvere, volutum, to roll. See {Voluble}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. (Arch.) A spiral scroll which forms the chief feature of
        the Ionic capital, and which, on a much smaller scale, is
        a feature in the Corinthian and Composite capitals. See


        Illust. of {Capital}, also {Helix}, and {Stale}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) A spiral turn, as in certain shells.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Zool.) Any voluta.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Volute spiring}, a spring formed of a spiral scroll of
        plate, rod, or wire, extended or extensible in the
        direction of the axis of the coil, in which direction its
        elastic force is exerted and employed.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  volute
       adj : in the shape of a coil [syn: {coiling}, {helical}, {spiral},
              {spiraling}, {voluted}, {whorled}, {turbinate}]
       n 1: ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around
            a center with an increasing distance from the center
            [syn: {spiral}]
       2: a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous
          series of loops; "a coil of rope" [syn: {coil}, {spiral},
          {whorl}, {helix}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  37 Moby Thesaurus words for "volute":
     anfractuous, cirrus, cochlear, cochleate, coil, corkscrew,
     corkscrewy, curl, curlicue, evolute, gyre, helical, helicoid,
     helix, involute, kink, ringlet, roll, screw, screw-shaped, scroll,
     scrolled, spiral, spiroid, swirl, tendril, turbinal, turbinate,
     twirl, twist, verticillate, voluted, volution, vortex, whirl,
     whorl, whorled