helix
/ˈhiːlɪks
/noun (plural helices /ˈhiːlɪsiːz/ /ˈhɛlɪsiːz/)
1An 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.They found that DNA consists of two connected twisted strands in the shape of a helix....
- The excess is carefully cut away to fabricate the helix shape.
- A television monitor showed what was inside: a glowing ball of gas surrounded by a metal helix.
Synonyms
spiral, coil, curl, corkscrew, twist, twirl, loop, gyre, whorl, scroll, curlicue, convolution
technical volute, volution
1.1 Geometry A curve on a conical or cylindrical surface which would become a straight line if the surface were unrolled into a plane.A template in the shape of a narrow right-angle triangle is wrapped around the cylinder to be threaded, and the hypotenuse of the triangle forms the line of the helix....
- The conical helix of their upward spiral against the flat blue sky is completely hypnotic.
1.2 Biochemistry An extended spiral chain of atoms in a protein, nucleic acid, or other polymeric molecule.The gray bands indicate the helix regions of the protein....
- DNA molecules in nature are built from two complementary strands that bind to form the double helix.
- The double helix of DNA is held together by hydrogen bonds.
1.3 Architecture A spiral ornament.Ross Lovegrove's stairway, with its helix profile, is part of a new tendency by designers to borrow forms from nature.
2 Anatomy The rim of the external ear.The ear print on the safe had a circular mark at the top of the ear helix....
- Decrease oxygen saturation in blood in the helix of the ear by using an ear oximeter.
Origin
Mid 16th century (in the architectural sense 'spiral ornament'): via Latin from Greek.