evolute

[ ev-uh-loot or, especially British, ee-vuh- ]

/ ˈɛv əˌlut or, especially British, ˈi və- /

Save This Word!

noun Geometry.

the locus of the centers of curvature of, or the envelope of the normals to, another curve.Compare involute (def. 5).

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of evolute

1720–30; <Latin ēvolūtus (past participle of ēvolvere to roll out, unfold, evolve)

Words nearby evolute

evocation, evocative, evocator, evoke, evoked potential, evolute, evolution, evolutionary, evolutionary algorithm, evolutionary biology, evolutionary medicine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use evolute in a sentence

The adjective translated evolute (udanh) is of frequent occurrence in the formulas, but has no exact equivalent in English.
The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees|James Mooney
The evolute of a curve is the curve which is the envelope of all its normals or the locus of all its centres of curvature.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia|Various
These names are given to the curves because the end of a stretched thread unwound from the evolute will describe the involute.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia|Various
The locus of the centres of curvature, or envelope of the normals, of a curve is called the “evolute.”
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 5|Various

The involutes are “orthogonal trajectories” of the tangents to the common evolute.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 5|Various

British Dictionary definitions for evolute

evolute

/ (ˈɛvəˌluːt) /

noun

a geometric curve that describes the locus of the centres of curvature of another curve (the involute). The tangents to the evolute are at right angles to the involute

adjective

biology having the margins rolled outwards

Word Origin for evolute

C19: from Latin ēvolūtus unrolled, from ēvolvere to roll out, evolve

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