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circumvolution

 - 2 dictionary results

cir⋅cum⋅vo⋅lu⋅tion

  [sur-kuhm-vuh-loo-shuhn]
Use circumvolution in a Sentence
–noun
1. the act of rolling or turning around: planetary circumvolution.
2. a single complete turn or cycle.
3. a winding or folding about something: the circumvolutions of a boa.
4. a fold so wound: the circumvolution of a snail shell.
5. a winding in a sinuous course; a sinuosity: the circumvolutions of the river.
6. a roundabout course or procedure, or an instance of such: The speaker's circumvolutions bored the audience to tears.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < ML circumvolūtiōn- (s. of circumvolūtiō), equiv. to L circumvolūt(us) (ptp. of circumvolvere to circumvolve ) (circum- circum- + volū- ptp. s. of volvere to roll + -tus ptp. suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms:
cir⋅cum⋅vo⋅lu⋅to⋅ry  [suhr-kuhm-vuh-loo-tuh-ree] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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cir·cum·vo·lu·tion   (sər-kŭm'və-lōō'shən, sûr'kəm-vō-)   
n.  

  1. An act of turning, coiling, or folding about a center, a core, or an axis.

  2. A single turn, coil, or fold; a convolution.


[Middle English circumvolucioun, from Medieval Latin circumvolūtiō, circumvolūtiōn-, from Latin circumvolūtus, past participle of circumvolvere, to roll around; see circumvolve.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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