Helix vs. Spiral

Helixnoun

(mathematics) A curve on the surface of a cylinder or cone such that its angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis is constant; the three-dimensional curve seen in a screw or a spiral staircase.

Helixnoun

(architecture) A small volute under the abacus of a Corinthian capital.

Helixnoun

(anatomy) The incurved rim of the external ear.

Helixnoun

An upside down midair 360° spin in playboating.

Helixverb

To form or cause to form a helix.

Helixnoun

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.

Helixnoun

A caulicule or little volute under the abacus of the Corinthian capital.

Helixnoun

The incurved margin or rim of the external ear. See Illust. of Ear.

Helixnoun

A genus of land snails, including a large number of species.

Helixnoun

a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle

Helixnoun

a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops;

Helixnoun

type genus of the family Helicidae

Helix

A helix (), plural helixes or helices (), is a shape like a corkscrew or spiral staircase. It is a type of smooth space curve with tangent lines at a constant angle to a fixed axis.

Spiralnoun

(geometry) A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.

Spiralnoun

(informal) A helix.

Spiralnoun

A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.

Spiraladjective

Helical, like a spiral

Spiralverb

(intransitive) To move along the path of a spiral or helix.

Spiralverb

(transitive) To cause something to spiral.

Spiralverb

To increase continually.

Spiraladjective

Winding or circling round a center or pole and gradually receding from it; as, the spiral curve of a watch spring.

Spiraladjective

Winding round a cylinder or imaginary axis, and at the same time rising or advancing forward; winding like the thread of a screw; helical.

Spiraladjective

Of or pertaining to a spiral; like a spiral.

Spiralnoun

A plane curve, not reëntrant, described by a point, called the generatrix, moving along a straight line according to a mathematical law, while the line is revolving about a fixed point called the pole. Cf. Helix.

Spiralnoun

Anything which has a spiral form, as a spiral shell.

Spiralnoun

a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at ever-greater distances from it

Spiralnoun

a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle

Spiralnoun

ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center

Spiralnoun

a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops;

Spiralnoun

flying downward in a helical path with a large radius

Spiralverb

to wind or move in a spiral course;

Spiralverb

form a spiral;

Spiralverb

move in a spiral or zigzag course

Spiraladjective

in the shape of a coil

Spiral

In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving farther away as it revolves around the point.