Volute
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 The characteristic spiral curve on an Ionic capital, widely copied in other styles and in neoclassical architecture.
"This example is much richer, yet no less elegant, than the other; the volute, instead of a single spiral, is formed by three; the sculptured echinus beneath is surmounted by a guilloched moulding, and separated from the shaft by a neck […]"
- 2 a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops wordnet
- 3 The spirals or whorls on a gastropod's shell.
- 4 ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center wordnet
- 5 Any marine gastropod of the family Volutidae.
"Common shells include frog-shells, distorsios, volutes, tulips, murex, cones, olives, marginellas, cowries, augers and the Florida horse conch, the state's official shell, which can grow up to 24in (6 1 cm) long."
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- 6 The casing in a centrifugal pump, whose shape is somewhat similar to architectural volutes.
- 7 A spiral or scroll form.
- 8 A scroll-shaped carving at the tuning head of a stringed musical instrument, similar to architectural volutes.
- 1 Of a spring: having a spiral curve on its tail. not-comparable
- 2 Rolled up in any way. not-comparable
- 1 in the shape of a coil wordnet
Example
More examples"This example is much richer, yet no less elegant, than the other; the volute, instead of a single spiral, is formed by three; the sculptured echinus beneath is surmounted by a guilloched moulding, and separated from the shaft by a neck […]"
Etymology
From French volute, from Italian voluta, from Latin volūta, from the feminine of volūtus, perfect passive participle of volvō. Doublet of vault.