What is "convolute"

Convolute \Con"vo*lute\, a. [L. convolutus, p. p. of convolvere. See Convolve.] (Bot.) Rolled or wound together, one part upon another; -- said of the leaves of plants in [ae]stivation.

"rolled up together," 1794, from Latin convolutus, past participle of convolvere (see convolution). The noun meaning "something convoluted" is from 1846.

1. (context botany of a leaf English) coiled such that one edge is inside, and one outside the coil, giving a spiral effect in cross section. (A special case of imbricate) v

2. 1 (context transitive English) To make unnecessarily complex. 2 (context transitive English) To fold or coil into numerous overlapping layers.

adj. rolled longitudinally upon itself; "a convolute petal"

1. v. curl, wind, or twist together [syn: convolve]

2. practice sophistry; change the meaning of or be vague about in order to mislead or deceive [syn: twist, twist around, pervert, sophisticate]

Convolute may refer to:

In mathematics:

• Convolution, in mathematics, an operation on two functions f and g, producing a third function that is typically viewed as a modified version of one of the original functions
  • Circular convolution
  • Convolution reverb, a process used for digitally simulating the reverberation of a physical or virtual space
  • Convolution random number generator, a pseudo-random number sampling method that can be used to generate random variates from certain classes of probability distribution
  • Convolution theorem
    • Titchmarsh convolution theorem
  • Dirichlet convolution
  • Infimal convolute
  • Logarithmic convolution
  • Vandermonde convolution

Other uses:

• Convolution (computer science)
• Convolutional code (telecommunication)
• Convoluted tubule (anatomy)
  • Distal convoluted tubule
• Convolute (botany)
• Convolute laminations in geology
• Convolute (segment), along with gores, material segments used in pressure suit joints to allow for increased mobility

Convolute as a verb literally means to "roll together" or "roll around", from the Latin convolvere. In general application the word can mean to "tangle" or "complicate", but in botanical descriptions convolute usually is an adjective from the Latin convolutus, meaning "rolled around". It commonly refers to a special class of imbricate structures — those where the overlapping edges of leaves, scales or similar elements are spirally wrapped, each scale having one edge within the previous scale and one outside the next scale. In the family Restionaceae the leaf sheaths commonly are convolute in this sense. However in structures such as a spathe, where there is only one element, a convolute (or "convolutive") element is spirally wrapped around itself or its branch. This is common in the buds of leaves and inflorescences of members of the family Araceae.