helicoid
- noun
- /ˈhɛlɪkɔɪd/
- Specialized
:
helicoide
- In nature, the snail's shell is an excellent example of a helicoid, displaying a beautiful spiral shape.
Examples
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The mathematician explained how a helicoid can be formed by rotating a line around an axis while moving it along its length.
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So the tattoo is a hyperbolic helicoid and it's done in a particular model called the Poincare disk model.
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The artist created a sculpture that mimicked the structure of a helicoid, showcasing its intricate spiral design.
How Helical
Surface Forms
Morphology
helicoid = helix (transparent) = helic + oid
In mathematical and natural-form senses the term is a direct combination of 'helix' and the '-oid' suffix meaning 'like, resembling', so the relation is clear.
Etymology
Helicoid as a surface comes from helix 'spiral' and the ending -oid 'like', the same ending in asteroid. So a helicoid is a surface that looks like a spiral or screw, which is why architects and mathematicians use the word for spiral shapes.