helix

views updated Jun 27 2018

helix (pl. helices).
1. Small volute or urilla under the abacus of the Corinthian capital, of which there are 16 (2 at each angle, and 2 on each face) connected to the stalks. According to some authorities the 8 inner spiral forms are the helices, while those at the angles are volutes.

2. Any volute, as on an Ionic or Composite capital, a console, or a modillion.

3. Handrail of a stair balustrade forming a helix over the newel.

helix

views updated May 21 2018

he·lix / ˈhēliks/ • n. (pl. -li·ces / -ləˌsēz/ ) an object having a three-dimensional shape like that of a wire wound uniformly in a single layer around a cylinder or cone, as in a corkscrew or spiral staircase. ∎  Geom. a curve on a conical or cylindrical surface that would become a straight line if the surface were unrolled into a plane. ∎  Biochem. an extended spiral chain of atoms in a protein, nucleic acid, or other polymeric molecule. ∎  Archit. a spiral ornament. ∎  Anat. the rim of the external ear.

helix

helix

views updated Jun 08 2018

helix XVI. — L. helix, helic- — Gr. hélix, -ik-, f. IE. *wel- roll.
Hence helical XVII. helicoid XVIII. — modL. — Gr.

helix

views updated May 21 2018

helix (hee-liks) n. the outer curved fleshy ridge of the pinna of the outer ear.

helix

views updated May 18 2018

helix Curve generated when a point moves over the surface of a cylinder so that it traces a path inclined at a constant angle to the cylinder's axis, as in a coil spring.