helixes

Variant of helix

noun pl. helixes or helices

  1. any spiral, as one lying in a single plane or, esp., one moving around a right circular cone or cylinder at a constant angle, as a screw or bolt thread does
  2. Anat. the folded rim of cartilage around the outer ear
  3. Archit. an ornamental spiral, as a volute on a Corinthian or Ionic capital
  4. Zool. any of a genus (Helix) of spiral-shelled land gastropods, including the common, edible European snail (H. pomatia)

Origin: L, kind of ivy, spiral < Gr, a spiral < helissein, to turn around < IE base *wel-, to turn, twist > walk

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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