helical

adjective

he·​li·​cal ˈhe-li-kəl How to pronounce helical (audio) ˈhē- How to pronounce helical (audio)
: of, relating to, or having the form of a helix
broadly : spiral sense 1a
helically adverb

Examples of helical in a Sentence

Sirius, the brightest star in the heavens, travels a helical path through space.
Recent Examples on the Web The team was able to produce simple helical and cone shapes, as well as more complex saddles and twists (the latter achieved by introducing double-sided grooves). Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 Oct. 2023 Compared to the Swarm satellites’ 4-meter-long booms, the team’s helical boom will extend just 80 centimeters. IEEE Spectrum, 5 Oct. 2023 The helical grooves of the Sequel tampon make the liquid flow path longer, thereby reducing the risk of leakage, the company’s co-founders say. Katie Deighton, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2023 Or maybe Wilkins would have done so if Franklin hadn't left him with the impression that a helical structure had been ruled out. George Johnson, Discover Magazine, 25 Apr. 2013 The Integra still pulls mightily out of corners, with the Type R's helical limited-slip front differential and clever dual-axis strut front suspension absolving the Type S powertrain of any of the usual high-horsepower front-wheel-drive sins. Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 19 June 2023 The young engineer began working on a tube in which a high-frequency radio wave corkscrews around, following a helical copper electrode, while electrons projected in a beam flow parallel to the axis of the helix. IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2015 In it, Kompfner revealed that the crucial idea of using a helical electrode was not his own. IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2015 Often the magnetic field within a solar storm has a helical structure, twisted like a corkscrew. Neel Savani, University Of Maryland, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2015

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'helical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of helical was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near helical

Cite this Entry

“Helical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helical. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

helical

adjective
he·​li·​cal ˈhel-i-kəl How to pronounce helical (audio) ˈhē-li- How to pronounce helical (audio)
: of, relating to, or having the form of a helix
the helical configuration of DNA
broadly : spiral sense 1a
helically adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!