circumvolution

American  

[sur-kuhm-vuh-loo-shuhn] / ˌsɜr kəm vəˈlu ʃən /

noun

1. the act of rolling or turning around.

   planetary circumvolution.

2. a single complete turn or cycle.

3. a winding or folding about something.

   the circumvolutions of a boa.

4. a fold so wound.

   the circumvolution of a snail shell.

5. a winding in a sinuous course; a sinuosity.

   the circumvolutions of the river.

6. a roundabout course or procedure, or an instance of such.

   The speaker's circumvolutions bored the audience to tears.

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circumvolution British  

/ ˌsɜːkəmvəˈluːʃən /

noun

1. the act of turning, winding, or folding around a central axis

2. a single complete turn, cycle, or fold

3. anything winding or sinuous

4. a roundabout course or procedure

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Other Word Forms

• circumvolutory adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Such words as "calefaction," "exility," "self-reduplication," "tricentreity," "individuation," "circumvolution," "presentifick circularity," struggle and sprawl within the narrow room of the Spenserian stanza.

From Milton by Raleigh, Walter Alexander, Sir

All the more insane were the circumvolution of that fictitious Primum Mobile, which is higher, deeper, and still more immeasurable.

From On the magnet, magnetick bodies also, and on the great magnet the earth a new physiology, demonstrated by many arguments & experiments by Gilbert, William

Tell me, then, for you can, in what periphrasis of language, in what circumvolution of phrase, I shall envelope, yet not conceal, the plain story.

From The Letters of Robert Burns by Burns, Robert

Its motion is one of rapid circumvolution, rather than of straightforward impulse by rapid and direct effort; it extends its orbit by small continual and hasty movements, but it does not suddenly alter its position.

From Democracy in America — Volume 2 by Reeves, Henry