helical

Helical — Hel i*cal, a. [From {Helix}.] Of or pertaining to, or in the form of, a helix; spiral; as, a helical staircase; a helical spring. {Hel i*cal*ly}, adv. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

helical — index circuitous Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

helical — spiral shaped, 1590s, from L. helicem (see HELIX (Cf. helix)) + AL (Cf. al) (1) …   Etymology dictionary

helical — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ having the shape or form of a helix; spiral. DERIVATIVES helically adverb …   English terms dictionary

helical — [hel′i kəl] adj. [ HELIC(O) + AL] of, or having the form of, a helix; spiral helically adv …   English World dictionary

helical — (hel ī kal) In virology this refers to a virus with a helical capsid surrounding its nucleic acid …   Dictionary of microbiology

helical — 1. Relating to a helix. SYN: helicine (2). 2. SYN: helicoid. [G. helix, a coil] * * * he·li·cal hel i kəl, hē li adj of, relating to, or having the form of a helix <the helical configuration of DNA> broadly SPIRAL (1a) he·li·cal·ly k(ə )lē …   Medical dictionary

helical — A spiralling shape such as that made by a coil spring. In the shape of a helix. Also see double helical gear …   Dictionary of automotive terms

helical — adjective Date: 1591 of, relating to, or having the form of a helix; broadly spiral 1a • helically adverb …   New Collegiate Dictionary

helical — spiral shaped …   Dictionary of ichthyology

helical — adj. [Gr. helix, a spiral] Spirally coiled; heliciform …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology