Hypertext Webster Gateway: "helix"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Helix \He"lix\, n.; pl. L. {Helices}, E. {Helixes}. [L. helix,
Gr. ?, ?, fr. ? to turn round; cf. L. volvere, and E. volute,
voluble.]
1. (Geom.) A nonplane curve whose tangents are all equally
inclined to a given plane. The common helix is the curve
formed by the thread of the ordinary screw. It is
distinguished from the spiral, all the convolutions of
which are in the plane.
2. (Arch.) A caulicule or little volute under the abacus of
the Corinthian capital.
3. (Anat.) The incurved margin or rim of the external ear.
See Illust. of {Ear}.
4. (Zo["o]l.) A genus of land snails, including a large
number of species.
Note: The genus originally included nearly all shells, but is
now greatly restricted. See {Snail}, {Pulmonifera}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
helix
n 1: a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and
cuts the element at a constant angle [syn: {spiral}]
2: a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous
series of loops; "a coil of rope" [syn: {coil}, {spiral},
{volute}, {whorl}]
3: type genus of the family Helicidae [syn: {Helix}, {genus
Helix}]
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