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helical

American  
[hel-i-kuhl, hee-li-] / ˈhɛl ɪ kəl, ˈhi lɪ- /

adjective

  1. pertaining to or having the form of a helix; spiral.

helical British  
/ ˈhɛlɪkəl /

adjective

  1. of or shaped like a helix; spiral

"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

Other Word Forms

  • helically adverb

Etymology

Origin of helical

First recorded in 1605–15; helic- + -al 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As water flows past the DNA, it applies a spinning force to the helical molecule.

From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026

Using this approach, the team carved tiny helical structures from a topological magnetic crystal made of cobalt, tin, and sulfur, with the chemical formula Co3Sn2S2.

From Science Daily • Jan. 25, 2026

The tubes measure about 230 nm in diameter and are made of 5 to 6 right-handed helical fibers that twist together.

From Science Daily • Dec. 3, 2025

Over the next three to six months, the structure developed into cartilage containing tissue that closely replicated the ear's anatomical features, including the helical rim, the "anti-helix" rim-inside-the-rim and the central, conchal bowl.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2024

Rosy did not give a hoot about the priority of the creation of the helical theory and, as Francis prattled on, she displayed increasing irritation.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.