spiral of Archimedes

noun phrase

spiral of Ar·​chi·​me·​des -ˌär-kə-ˈmē-dēz How to pronounce spiral of Archimedes (audio)
: a plane curve that is generated by a point moving away from or toward a fixed point at a constant rate while the radius vector from the fixed point rotates at a constant rate and that has the equation ρ = a θ in polar coordinates

Word History

Etymology

Archimedes

First Known Use

circa 1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spiral of Archimedes was circa 1856

Dictionary Entries Near spiral of Archimedes

Cite this Entry

“Spiral of Archimedes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiral%20of%20Archimedes. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

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