double helix

double helix

noun

Definition of DOUBLE HELIX

: a helix or spiral consisting of two strands in the surface of a cylinder that coil around its axis; especially : the structural arrangement of DNA in space that consists of paired polynucleotide strands stabilized by cross-links between purine and pyrimidine bases—compare alpha-helix, watson-crick model/art/med/dna.htm

—dou·ble–he·li·cal \-ˈhel-i-kəl, -ˈhē-li-\ adjective