n. 1. A spiral scroll-like ornament such as that used on an Ionic capital. 2. a. A spiral formation, such as one of the whorls of a gastropod shell. b. Any of various marine gastropod mollusks of the family Volutidae, having a spiral, often colorfully marked shell. [French, from Italian voluta, from Latin volūta, from feminine past participle of volvere, to turn, roll; see wel-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] vo·luted (-ltĭd) adj. |
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