noun pl. helixes or helices
- 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
- Anat. the folded rim of cartilage around the outer ear
- Archit. an ornamental spiral, as a volute on a Corinthian or Ionic capital
- 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