volution

vo·lute

[vuh-loot]
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.
a.
a turn or whorl of a spiral shell.
b.
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
6.
having a volute or rolled-up form.
7.
Machinery.
a.
spirally shaped or having a part so shaped.
b.
moving in a circular way, especially if combined with a lateral motion.
00:10
Volution is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.

Origin:
1690–1700; (< F) < Latin volūta, feminine of volūtus, past participle of volvere to turn. See revolve

vo·lut·ed, adjective
vo·lu·tion, noun
in·ter·vo·lute, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To Volution
Collins
World English Dictionary
volute (ˈvɒljuːt, vəˈluːt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
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
 
adj
6.  having the form of a volute; spiral
7.  machinery moving in a spiral path
 
[C17: from Latin volūta a spiral decoration, from volūtus rolled, from volvere to roll up]

volution (vəˈluːʃən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a rolling, revolving, or spiral form or motion
2.  a whorl of a spiral gastropod shell

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

volute
1696, "spiral ornament on an Ionic capital," from Fr. volute, from It. voluta, from L. voluta "a spiral scroll," originally fem. pp. of volvere "to turn around, roll" (see vulva). Extended 1756 to any spiral thing or part. As a type of spiral seashell, it is attested from 1753.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

volute vo·lute (və-l&oomacr;t')
n.
A spiral formation, such as one of the whorls of a gastropod shell.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT