What is "turbinate"

Turbinate \Tur"bi*nate\, v. i. To revolve or spin like a top; to whirl. [R.]

Turbinate \Tur"bi*nate\, Turbinated \Tur"bi*na`ted\, a. [L. turbinatus, turbo, turben, -inis, a whirl, top.]

1. Whirling in the manner of a top.

   A spiral and turbinated motion of the whole.
   --Bentley.

2. (Bot.) Shaped like a top, or inverted cone; narrow at the base, and broad at the apex; as, a turbinated ovary, pericarp, or root.

3. (Anat.) Turbinal.

4. (Zo["o]l.) Spiral with the whorls decreasing rapidly from a large base to a pointed apex; -- said of certain shells.

1. 1 Shaped or spinning like a top. 2 In the shape of a coil. 3 (context zoology English) Spiral and decreasing sharply in diameter from base to apex. Used especially of shells. 4 (context anatomy English) Of, or relating to, the turbinate bone. n. (context anatomy English) A turbinal or turbinate bone. v

2. To revolve or spin like a top; to whirl.

1. adj. of or relating to the scroll-shaped turbinate bones in the nasal passages

2. in the shape of a coil [syn: coiling, helical, spiral, spiraling, volute, voluted, whorled]

n. any of the scrolled spongy bones of the nasal passages in man and other vertebrates [syn: turbinate bone, turbinal]