I. ˈinvəˌlüt also -vəlˌyüt; ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ adjective
Etymology: Latin involutus involved, intricate, from past participle of involvere to wrap, envelop
1.
a.
(1) : curled spirally
(2) : having the whorls closely coiled
involute shell
b.
(1) : curled or curved inward
(2) : having the edges rolled over the upper surface toward the midrib
an involute leaf
— compare convolute , revolute
2. : involuted 3
the possible moves … not only manifold, but involute — E.A.Poe
3. : of or relating to an involute
involute curve
involute gear cutter
• in·vo·lute·ly adverb
II. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
( -s )
: a curve traced by any point of a perfectly flexible inextensible thread kept taut as it is wound upon or unwound from another curve — compare evolute
[s]involute.jpg[/s] [
involute a, p, p, p, p traced by any point p of the thread t unwinding from curve c
]
III. | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to curl inward : become involute
the leaf margin involutes
2.
a. : to return to a former condition
after pregnancy the uterus involutes
b. : to clear up : disappear
the disease involutes without desquamation — Annals of New York Academy of Sciences