1. spiral shape: a spiral form or structure, e.g. the whorl in the shell of a snail
2. architecture decorative scroll: a carved spiral decoration, usually on an Ionic capital
3. marine biology tropical mollusk: a gastropod mollusk with a colorful spiral shell. Native to: tropical waters. Family Volutidae.
adjective
Definition:
spiraling: moving in or following a spiral path
[Mid-16th century. Directly or via French< Latin voluta, feminine past participle of volvere "to roll"]
Word History
The Latin word volvere "to roll," from which volute is derived, is also the source of the English words convolute, convolvulus, devolution, evolution, involve, revolt, revolution, revolve, vault1, voluble, and volume.
