Crossword clues for volute
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Volute \Vo*lute"\, n. [F. volute (cf. It. voluta), L. voluta, from volvere, volutum, to roll. See Voluble.]
(Arch.) A spiral scroll which forms the chief feature of the Ionic capital, and which, on a much smaller scale, is a feature in the Corinthian and Composite capitals. See Illust. of Capital, also Helix, and Stale.
(Zo["o]l.) A spiral turn, as in certain shells.
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(Zo["o]l.) Any voluta.
Volute spiring, a spring formed of a spiral scroll of plate, rod, or wire, extended or extensible in the direction of the axis of the coil, in which direction its elastic force is exerted and employed.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1690s, "spiral ornament on an Ionic capital," from French volute (16c.), from Italian voluta, from Latin voluta "a spiral scroll," noun use of fem. past participle of volvere "to turn around, roll" (see volvox). Extended 1756 to any spiral thing or part. As a type of spiral seashell, it is attested from 1753.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context architecture English) The spiral curve on an Ionic capital. 2 (context zoology English) The spirls or whorls on a gastropod's shell. 3 (context zoology English) Any marine gastropod of the family ''(taxlink Volutidae family noshow=1)''.
WordNet
Wikipedia
A volute is a spiral, scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the Ionic order, found in the capital of the Ionic column. It was later incorporated into Corinthian order and Composite column capitals. Four are normally to be found on an Ionic capital, eight on Composite capitals and smaller versions (sometimes called helix) on the Corinthian capital.
The word derives from the Latin voluta ("scroll"). It has been suggested that the ornament was inspired by the curve of a ram's horns, or perhaps was derived from the natural spiral found in the ovule of a common species of clover native to Greece. Alternatively, it may simply be of geometrical origin.
The ornament can be seen in Renaissance and Baroque architecture and is a common decoration in furniture design, silverware and ceramics. A method of drawing the complex geometry was devised by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius through the study of classical buildings and structures.
The term volute is used for spiral or scroll forms in a number of different contexts, all of which derive from and allude to the original Latin root word voluta ("scroll"):
- In architecture, a volute is a decorative element, in particular on the capitals of columns.
- In art and ornament, a volute is a spiral or scroll form.
- In stairways, a volute is a handrail for a bullnose step that is shaped like a spiral.
- In biology, a volute is one of a number of species of marine snails in the family Volutidae.
- In engineering, a volute is the casing in a centrifugal pump, whose shape is somewhat similar to architectural volutes.
- In engineering, a volute spring is a compression spring in the shape of a volute.
- In pottery, a volute krater is a type of Greek urn that takes its name from the form of the handles, which spiral into volutes.
- In music, a volute is a scroll shaped carving at the tuning head of stringed musical instruments similar to architectural volutes.
The volute of a centrifugal pump is the casing that receives the fluid being pumped by the impeller, slowing down the fluid's rate of flow. A volute is a curved funnel that increases in area as it approaches the discharge port. The volute converts kinetic energy into pressure by reducing speed while increasing pressure, helping to balance the hydraulic pressure on the shaft of the pump.
The name "volute" is inspired by the resemblance of this kind of casing to the scroll-like part near the top of an ionic order column in classical architecture, called a volute.
Usage examples of "volute".
The lofty walls--gigantic in height--even unproportionably so, were hung from summit to foot, in vast folds, with a heavy and massive looking tapestry--tapestry of a material which was found alike as a carpet on the floor, as a covering for the ottomans and the ebony bed, as a canopy for the bed, and as the gorgeous volutes of the curtains which partially shaded the window.
Luxembourg Gardens for an hour after that, watching the toy sailboats on the pond, mentally unspooling a volute from the half-circle of the flower bed.
Below them she could see the tireless Rillyti laboring over tasks which ranged from the hoisting of mammoth blocks of stone to the painstaking reengraving of a delicately carved helix or volute.
Now these were the shelliest kids along the seashore that summer and they should all have known a Volute from a Cone, all except little Oliver.
A new implement stood voluted beside the genuine Renaissance writing desk supporting Weininger's always open standard work: the tailor's horse, the tailor's organ, the tailor's confessional: a Singer sewing machine.
The electricians had contrived a catchment pool and a wheel in the torrent close at handfor the little Mulhausen dynamo with its turbinal volute used by the telegraphists was quite adaptable to water driving, and on the sixth day in the evening the apparatus was in working order and the Prince was callingweakly, indeed, but callingto his air-fleet across the empty spaces of the world.
It offered so many columns, pediments, friezes, tripods, gladiators, urns and volutes that it looked as if it had not been built of white marble, but squeezed out of a pastry tube.