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
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Along with that, the research team also noted helical fiber structures, also with collagen, which suggests the cartilage is designed to prevent any cracks from spreading, and help to distribute staring and force. Discover Magazine, 20 May 2025 Among its features is the tourbillon at 5 o’clock, two six-column wheels to operate the different levers of the split-seconds function, a specific clamp design and a blade instead of the traditional helical spring. Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 2 May 2025 Nelson’s team can use its magnets to control a helical microrobot with magnetic fields of less than 10 millitesla, a fraction of what’s created in an MRI. IEEE Spectrum, 1 June 2015 Unlike standard laser beams that propagate straight, vortex beams twist along their axis, creating a helical wavefront with a distinct ‘null intensity’ region at the center. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for helical

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of helical was in 1591

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Cite this Entry

“Helical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helical. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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