involute

1 of 3

adjective

in·​vo·​lute ˈin-və-ˌlüt 

1

a

: curled spirally

b(1)

: curled or curved inward

(2)

: having the edges rolled over the upper surface toward the midrib

an involute leaf

c

: having the form of an involute

a gear with involute teeth

2

: involved, intricate

involute

2 of 3

noun

: a curve traced by a point on a thread kept taut as it is unwound from another curve

involute of a circle

Illustration of involute

• involute a p p p p traced by any point p of the thread t unwinding from curve c

involute

3 of 3

verb

in·​vo·​lute ˌin-və-ˈlüt 

involuted; involuting

intransitive verb

1

: to become involute

2

a

: to return to a former condition

b

: to become cleared up : disappear

Synonyms

Adjective

• baroque
• byzantine
• complex
• complicate
• complicated
• convoluted
• daedal
• elaborate
• intricate
• involved
• knotty
• labyrinthian
• labyrinthine
• sophisticated
• tangled

Examples of involute in a Sentence

Adjective

the novel's deliberately involute plot is intended as a brainteaser for readers

the chambered nautilus is readily identified by its involute seashell

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Latin involūtus "not manifest, obscure, concealed," from past participle of involvere "to move by rolling, enclose in a covering, wrap up, cover" — more at involve

Noun

borrowed from New Latin involūta, literally "(line) rolled inward," noun derivative from feminine of Latin involūtus, past participle of involvere "to move by rolling, enclose in a covering, wrap up, cover"; formed by analogy with New Latin ēvolūta evolute — more at involve

Verb

derivative of involute entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

circa 1796, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

involute

intransitive verb

in·​vo·​lute ˌin-və-ˈlüt 

involuted; involuting

1

: to return to a former condition

after pregnancy the uterus involutes

2

: to become cleared up

the disease involutes without desquammation

—Annals of New York Academy of Sciences