volute

vo·lute  (v-lt)

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.

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[French, from Italian voluta, from Latin volta, from feminine past participle of volvere, to turn, roll; see wel-² in Indo-European roots.]

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vo·luted (-ltd) adj.

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volute [ˈvɒljuːt vəˈluːt]

n

1. a spiral or twisting turn, form, or object; spiral; whorl

2. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Architecture) Also called helix a carved ornament, esp as used on an Ionic capital, that has the form of a spiral scroll

3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) any of the whorls of the spirally coiled shell of a snail or similar gastropod mollusc

4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any tropical marine gastropod mollusc of the family Volutidae, typically having a spiral shell with beautiful markings

5. (Engineering / 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 also voluted [vəˈluːtɪd]

1. having the form of a volute; spiral

2. (Engineering / Mechanical Engineering) Machinery moving in a spiral path

[from Latin volūta a spiral decoration, from volūtus rolled, from volvere to roll up]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	volute - ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center spiral decoration, ornament, ornamentation - something used to beautify
	2.	volute - a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope" coil, helix, whorl, spiral hank - a coil of rope or wool or yarn structure, construction - a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts; "the structure consisted of a series of arches"; "she wore her hair in an amazing construction of whirls and ribbons"
Adj.	1.	volute - in the shape of a coil               coiling, helical, spiral, spiraling, voluted, whorled, turbinate coiled - curled or wound (especially in concentric rings or spirals); "a coiled snake ready to strike"; "the rope lay coiled on the deck"

Translations

volute

n (Archit) → Volute f