volute

CIDE DICTIONARY

volute, n. [F. volute (cf. It. voluta), L. voluta, from volvere, volutum, to roll. See Voluble.].

•  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]
•  A spiral turn, as in certain shells.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

volute, n. & adj.
--n.
1 Archit. a spiral scroll characteristic of Ionic capitals and also used in Corinthian and composite capitals.
2 a any marine gastropod mollusc of the genus Voluta. b the spiral shell of this.
--adj. esp. Bot. rolled up.

Derivative

voluted adj.

Etymology

F volute or L voluta fem. past part. of volvere roll

THESAURUS

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

ROGET THESAURUS

volute

Convolution

N convolution, winding, convolution, involution, circumvolution, wave, undulation, tortuosity, anfractuosity, sinuosity, sinuation, meandering, circuit, circumbendibus, twist, twirl, windings and turnings, ambages, torsion, inosculation, reticulation, rivulation, roughness, coil, roll, curl, buckle, spiral, helix, corkscrew, worm, volute, rundle, tendril, scollop, scallop, escalop, kink, ammonite, snakestone, serpent, eel, maze, labyrinth, knot, convoluted, winding, twisted, tortile, tortive, wavy, undated, undulatory, circling, snaky, snake-like, serpentine, serpent, anguill, vermiform, vermicular, mazy, tortuous, sinuous, flexuous, anfractuous, reclivate, rivulose, scolecoid, sigmoid, sigmoidal, spiriferous, spiroid, involved, intricate, complicated, perplexed, labyrinth, labyrinthic, labyrinthian, labyrinthine, peristaltic, daedalian, kinky, knotted, wreathy, frizzly, crepe, buckled, raveled, spiral, coiled, helical, cochleate, cochleous, screw-shaped, turbinated, turbiniform, in and out, round and round, a can of worms, Gordian knot.