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
Volute is always a great word to know.
So is pavilion. Does it mean:
a projecting element of a fa?ade, used especially at the center or at each end and usually treated so as to suggest a tower
the front of a building, esp. an imposing or decorative one; any side of a building facing a public way or space and finished accordingly

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.
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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]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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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
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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.
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

volute

any marine snail of the family Volutidae (subclass Prosobranchia of the class Gastropoda). Most species have large, colourful shells, typically with an elongated aperture in the first whorl of the shell and a number of deep folds on the inner lip. Volutes are most common in warm, shallow waters but occur also in polar seas. Prized by collectors is the imperial volute (Aulica imperialis) of the Philippines; it is 25 cm (10 inches) long, with a spine-tipped body whorl finely checked with brown, and an outer lip that is wide and golden-lined.

Learn more about volute with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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Example sentences
Air vent and drain connections shall be provided on the highest and lowest
  points of the volute.
At the base of the stair the handrail terminates in a volute, as does the lower
  step.
Pump motor current increases due to the compression of gases in the pump volute.
Two tangential nozzles are used to discharge liquid from the volute above the
  suction.
Image for volute
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