Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Volute

Volute , noun

[French volute (compare Italian voluta), Latin voluta, from volvere, volutum, to roll. See Voluble.]

1.
(Architecture) 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.
2.
(Zoology) A spiral turn, as in certain shells.
3.
(Zoology) Any voluta.
Collocations (1)
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.