I. vəˈlüt also vəlˈyüt, usu -üd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin voluta, from feminine of volutus, past participle of volvere to roll, turn — more at voluble
1. : a spiral or scroll-shaped form
locks of hair were curled in little flat volutes — Herman Goodman
the bright overturning volute of a wave — Henry Beston
2. : an object or part having a spiral or scroll-shaped form: as
a. : a spiral scroll-shaped ornament that forms the chief feature of the Ionic capital and that also appears in the Corinthian and Composite capitals
b. : the ornamental scroll-shaped bottom end of a stair rail on top of the newel
c. : a turn of a spiral shell
d. : the spiral casing surrounding the impeller of a volute pump ; also : volute pump
3. : any of numerous marine gastropod mollusks of Voluta and related genera of the family Volutidae whose shell is usually rather thick, has a short spire, wide aperture, conspicuous columellar folds, and usually is inoperculate — compare music shell
II. adjective
1. : having a spiral or scroll-shaped form : rolled up : voluted
a volute ornament
a volute termination of a stair rail
2. : having a part of spiral form or operating with a rotary action — used especially of machinery