volute

[ 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.
   1. a turn or whorl of a spiral shell.
   2. 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 centrifugal pump.

adjective

1. having a volute or rolled-up form.
2. Machinery.
   1. spirally shaped or having a part so shaped.
   2. moving in a circular way, especially if combined with a lateral motion.

volute

/ ˈvɒljuːt; vəˈluːt /

noun

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

adjective

1. having the form of a volute; spiral
2. machinery moving in a spiral path

Other Words From

• vo·luted adjective
• vo·lution noun
• inter·vo·lute adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of volute¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from French or directly from Latin volūta “a scroll,” feminine noun use of volūtus, past participle of volvere “to turn”; revolve

Word History and Origins

Origin of volute¹

C17: from Latin volūta a spiral decoration, from volūtus rolled, from volvere to roll up

Example Sentences

It’s sometimes possible to use glue and trim screws, which have heads no bigger than finish nails, to repair a simple U-shape curve or even a volute, the spiral scroll that curls around to the end post on some staircases.

From Seattle Times

It’s sometimes possible to use glue and trim screws, which have heads no bigger than finish nails, to repair a simple U-shape curve or even a volute, the spiral scroll that curls around to the end post on some staircases.

From Washington Post

The recovered part of the Ionic column contains the volute — the spiral-shaped ornament characteristic of the Ionic and later styles — and the abacus — the weight-bearing flat slab at the top of the column — both in excellent condition.

From Seattle Times

The recovered part of the Ionic column contains the volute - the spiral-shaped ornament characteristic of the Ionic and later styles - and the abacus - the weight-bearing flat slab at the top of the column - both in excellent condition.

From Washington Times

Westport, the world’s biggest maker of technology for compressed natural gas engines, has invested in Volute, one of the companies Otherlab spun off, which makes soft gas tanks.

From New York Times

Related Words

• streamer