involuted

[ in-vuh-loo-tid, in-vuh-loo-tid ]
/ ˈɪn vəˌlu tɪd, ˌɪn vəˈlu tɪd /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR involuted ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

curving or curling inward.
having an involved or complex nature.
having resumed its normal size, shape, or condition.

Origin of involuted

First recorded in 1810–20; involute + -ed2

OTHER WORDS FROM involuted

sub·in·vo·lut·ed, adjective un·in·vo·lut·ed, adjective

Words nearby involuted

involuntary, involuntary muscle, involute, involute gear, involute teeth, involuted, involution, involutional, involutional melancholia, involutional psychosis, involve

Definition for involuted (2 of 2)

involute
[ adjective, noun in-vuh-loot; verb in-vuh-loot, in-vuh-loot ]
/ adjective, noun ˈɪn vəˌlut; verb ˌɪn vəˈlut, ˈɪn vəˌlut /

adjective

noun

Geometry. any curve of which a given curve is the evolute.

verb (used without object), in·vo·lut·ed, in·vo·lut·ing.

to roll or curl up; become involute.
to return to a normal shape, size, or state.

Origin of involute

1655–65; < Latin involūtus (past participle of involvere to roll up, wrap, cover), equivalent to in- in-2 + volū- (variant stem of volvere to roll) + -tus past participle suffix; cf. involve

OTHER WORDS FROM involute

in·vo·lute·ly, adverb sub·in·vo·lute, adjective

Words related to involuted

undulating, hilly, convolute, resounding, undulate, convoluted, lurching, voluble, undulant

Example sentences from the Web for involuted

  • The involuted portion of the inner lip is shorter and differently shaped.

    The Beaked Whales of the Family Ziphidae |Frederick True

  • On each side the involuted corals flung their twisted arms in more curious and intricate folds.

    Cord and Creese |James de Mille

  • Celtic illuminations also have these distorted, involuted creatures.

    Sea and Sardinia |D. H. Lawrence

British Dictionary definitions for involuted

involute

adjective (ˈɪnvəˌluːt) involuted

complex, intricate, or involved
botany (esp of petals, leaves, etc, in bud) having margins that are rolled inwards
(of certain shells) closely coiled so that the axis is obscured

noun (ˈɪnvəˌluːt)

geometry the curve described by the free end of a thread as it is wound around another curve, the evolute, such that its normals are tangential to the evolute See also evolute

verb (ˌɪnvəˈluːt)

(intr) to become involute

Derived forms of involute

involutely, adverb involutedly, adverb

Word Origin for involute

C17: from Latin involūtus, from involvere; see involve