Helix

hē′liks, n. a spiral, as of wire in a coil: ( zool. ) a genus of molluscs including the land-snails: the external part of the ear: a small volute or twist in the capital of a Corinthian column:— pl. Helices (hel′i-sēz). — adj. Hel′ical , spiral.— adv. Hel′ically .— n.pl. Helic′idæ , a large family of terrestrial, air-breathing gasteropods, of which snails are familiar examples.— n. Hel′icograph , a drawing instrument for describing a spiral line.— adjs. Hel′icoid , -al , like a helix, screw-shaped; He lisp her′ic , -al , spiral. [L.,—Gr. helix , heli ein , to turn round.]