Cornu spiral

noun

Cor·​nu spiral
(ˈ)kȯr¦n(y)ü-
: a spiral of two oppositely coiled branches obtained by plotting as abscissas and ordinates respectively the corresponding values of a certain two integrals and used to afford graphical solution of various problems in diffraction of light

Word History

Etymology

after Marie Alfred Cornu †1902 French physicist

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Cite this Entry

“Cornu spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cornu%20spiral. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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