English

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Volutes on neoclassical Ionic capitals of a modern building
 
Volute of the shell of a living specimen of Voluta ebraea
 
Diagrammatic section of the volute of a centrifugal pump
 
Volute typical of a stringed musical instrument, on the scroll of a double bass

Etymology

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From French volute, from Italian voluta, from Latin volūta, from the feminine of volūtus, perfect passive participle of volvō. Doublet of vault.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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 Volute on Wikipedia

volute (plural volutes)

  1. (architecture) The characteristic spiral curve on an Ionic capital, widely copied in other styles and in neoclassical architecture.
    • 1856, Edward Shaw, The Modern Architect, Or, Every Carpenter His Own Master:
      This example is much richer, yet no less elegant, than the other; the volute, instead of a single spiral, is formed by three; the sculptured echinus beneath is surmounted by a guilloched moulding, and separated from the shaft by a neck []
  2. (zoology) The spirals or whorls on a gastropod's shell.
  3. (zoology) Any marine gastropod of the family Volutidae.
    • 2002, Don Philpott, Florida: Gulf Coast[1], page 16:
      Common shells include frog-shells, distorsios, volutes, tulips, murex, cones, olives, marginellas, cowries, augers and the Florida horse conch, the state's official shell, which can grow up to 24in (6 1 cm) long.
  4. (engineering) The casing in a centrifugal pump, whose shape is somewhat similar to architectural volutes.
  5. (art) A spiral or scroll form.
  6. (music) A scroll-shaped carving at the tuning head of a stringed musical instrument, similar to architectural volutes.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Adjective

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The double volute spring in these shears automatically opens the blades when the user's grip relaxes

volute (not comparable)

  1. (engineering) Of a spring: having a spiral curve on its tail.

French

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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volute f (plural volutes)

  1. (architecture) volute
  2. (music, lutherie) scroll (of a musical instrument)

Further reading

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Italian

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Participle

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volute f pl

  1. feminine plural of voluto

Latin

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Participle

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volūte

  1. vocative masculine singular of volūtus