circumvolution
[ sur-kuhm-vuh-loo-shuhn ]
/ ˌsɜr kəm vəˈlu ʃən /
Save This Word!
noun
the act of rolling or turning around: planetary circumvolution.
a single complete turn or cycle.
a winding or folding about something: the circumvolutions of a boa.
a fold so wound: the circumvolution of a snail shell.
a winding in a sinuous course; a sinuosity: the circumvolutions of the river.
a roundabout course or procedure, or an instance of such: The speaker's circumvolutions bored the audience to tears.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!
Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.
Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Meet Grammar Coach
Improve Your Writing
Origin of circumvolution
1400–50; late Middle English <Medieval Latin circumvolūtiōn- (stem of circumvolūtiō), equivalent to Latin circumvolūt(us) (past participle of circumvolvere to circumvolve) (circum-circum- + volū- past participle stem of volvere to roll + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn--ion
OTHER WORDS FROM circumvolution
cir·cum·vo·lu·to·ry [suhr-kuhm-vuh-loo-tuh-ree], /ˌsʌr kəm vəˈlu tə ri/, adjectiveWords nearby circumvolution
circumvallate, circumvallate papilla, circumvent, circumventricular organ, circumvolute, circumvolution, circumvolve, circus, Circus Maximus, ciré, Cirebon
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for circumvolution
No doubt was possible: the two lobes, the circumvolution of the brain to the minute red lines of the blood-vessels, all was there.
The Ancient Cities of the New World|Dsir CharnayNever did a monarch hold so steadfastly to a deadly purpose, or proceed so languidly and with so much circumvolution to his goal.
The Rise of the Dutch Republic, Volume II.(of III) 1566-74|John Lothrop Motley
British Dictionary definitions for circumvolution
circumvolution
/ (ˌsɜːkəmvəˈluːʃən) /
noun
the act of turning, winding, or folding around a central axis
a single complete turn, cycle, or fold
anything winding or sinuous
a roundabout course or procedure
Derived forms of circumvolution
circumvolutory, adjectiveWord Origin for circumvolution
C15: from Medieval Latin circumvolūtiō, from Latin circumvolvere, from circum- + volvere to roll
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012