Illustration of involute
- involute a
- p
- p
- p
- p traced by any point p of the thread t unwinding from curve c
involute
1 of 3adjective
in·vo·lute ˈin-və-ˌlüt 
1
a
: curled spirally
b(1)
: curled or curved inward
(2)
: having the edges rolled over the upper surface toward the midrib
an involute leaf
c
: having the form of an involute
a gear with involute teeth
2
: involved, intricate
involute
2 of 3noun
: a curve traced by a point on a thread kept taut as it is unwound from another curve
involute of a circle
involute
3 of 3verb
in·vo·lute ˌin-və-ˈlüt
involuted; involuting
intransitive verb
1
: to become involute
2
a
: to return to a former condition
b
: to become cleared up : disappear
Synonyms
Adjective
- baroque
- byzantine
- complex
- complicate
- complicated
- convoluted
- daedal
- elaborate
- intricate
- involved
- knotty
- labyrinthian
- labyrinthine
- sophisticated
- tangled
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective the novel's deliberately involute plot is intended as a brainteaser for readers the chambered nautilus is readily identified by its involute seashell
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
borrowed from Latin involūtus "not manifest, obscure, concealed," from past participle of involvere "to move by rolling, enclose in a covering, wrap up, cover" — more at involve
Noun
borrowed from New Latin involūta, literally "(line) rolled inward," noun derivative from feminine of Latin involūtus, past participle of involvere "to move by rolling, enclose in a covering, wrap up, cover"; formed by analogy with New Latin ēvolūta evolute — more at involve
Verb
derivative of involute entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
circa 1796, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
involute
intransitive verb
in·vo·lute ˌin-və-ˈlüt
involuted; involuting
1
: to return to a former condition
after pregnancy the uterus involutes
2
: to become cleared up
the disease involutes without desquammation 
Annals of New York Academy of Sciences
Annals of New York Academy of Sciencesinvoluted
adjective
as in convoluted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- convoluted
- involute
- labyrinthine
- labyrinthian
- overwrought
- exuberant
- grandiose
- showy
- frilly
- flamboyant
- extravagant
- ostentatious
- fancified
- Byzantine
- complex
- elegant
- magnificent
- chichi
- complicated
- ornate
- intricate
- exquisite
- splendid
- involved
- souped-up
- elaborate
- detailed
- fancy
- sophisticated
- gimmicked (up)
- grand
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unsophisticated
- simple
- uncomplicated
- unfancy
- plain
- unadorned
- modest
- bald
- undecorated
- bare
- naked
- unvarnished
- no-frills
- plain-vanilla
- plain-Jane