[n. of action f. L. convolūt-, ppl. stem of convolvĕre to roll together: see CONVOLVE.]
1. The action of folding (obs.), coiling, twisting, or winding together; the condition of being coiled or convoluted.
1597. J. King, Jonas (1618), 375. A conuolution or folding vp together.
1674. Grew, Anat. Plants, III. II. vi. (1682), 137. The Claspers of a Vine … have also a Motion of Convolution.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst. (1837), I. 152. Where, after many convolutions and evolutions … they chanced … to settle.
1730. Thomson, Autumn, 837. Toss’d wide around, O’er the calm sky, in convolution swift.
1835. Lindley, Introd. Bot. (1848), I. 393. If the convolution is imperfect … the ovules are partially naked.
2. A fold, twist, turn, winding, sinuosity (of anything rolled or coiled up, or of a coiled form).
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 26. It hath many conuolucyons, as wormes lyeng together haue.
1666. Boyle, Orig. Formes & Qual., 193–4. To cast it self into such grand Conventions and Convolutions, as the Cartesians call Vortices.
1682. T. Gibson, Anat. (1697), 375. Full of windings, like the convolutions of the guts.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VII. 5. The center round which every succeeding convolution of the shell is formed.
1871. Tyndall, Fragm. Sc. (ed. 6), II. xvi. 439. Each additional convolution … adds its electro-motive force to that of all the others.
1873. Black, Pr. Thule, vi. 89. The curious convolutions of this rugged coast.
3. Anat. Each of the sinuous folds or windings of the surface of the cerebral hemispheres in man and the higher animals.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 449. The convolutions of the Brain.
1804. Abernethy, Surg. Obs., 203. Upon the surface of the convolutions of the cerebrum.
1880. Bastian, Brain, 279. In the lowest Quadrupeds there are no convolutions.
