helix
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
heeliksSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈhilɪks
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
mathematics
A curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle
mathematics
A curve on the surface of a cylinder or cone such that its angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis is constant; the three-dimensional curve seen in a screw or a spiral staircase.
anatomy
The incurved rim of the external ear.
An upside down midair 360° spin in playboating.
architecture
A small volute under the abacus of a Corinthian capital.
verb
To form or cause to form a helix.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle
Used this way, helix is a specialist word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. This is a mathematical use: it is defined precisely and belongs to working with figures and calculations rather than to ordinary conversation.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Clinical and technical
- Usage feel
- Technical and specialized
Where it naturally appears
- Mathematics
- Geometry
- Academic writing
- Education/classroom
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use helix
- “The DNA molecule has a famous double helix structure, a twisted ladder.”noun
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More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: to form or cause to form a helix
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.