beaks recurved and convoluted like a ram's horn.
--Pennant.
[1913 Webster]
2. Folded in tortuous windings.
[1913 Webster]
A highly convoluted brain. --North Amer. Rev. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
convoluted — convoluted; un·convoluted; … English syllables
convoluted — [kän′və lo͞ot΄id] adj. 1. having convolutions, as in the kidney s tubules; coiled; spiraled 2. extremely involved; intricate; complicated [a convoluted style] … English World dictionary
convoluted — index circuitous, complex, compound, difficult, inextricable, recondite, sinuous, tortuous (bending) … Law dictionary
convoluted — (adj.) 1811, pp. adjective from verb convolute (1690s), from L. convolutus, pp. of convolvere (see CONVOLUTION (Cf. convolution)); or perhaps a back formation from convolution. French has convoluté (18c.), in form a pp. adjective, without the… … Etymology dictionary
convoluted — [adj] complicated baffling, complex, confused, elaborate, impenetrable, intricate, involved, labyrinthine, perplexing, puzzling, serpentine, tangled, tortuous; concept 562 Ant. simple, straightforward … New thesaurus
convoluted — ► ADJECTIVE 1) (of an argument, statement, etc.) extremely complex. 2) intricately folded, twisted, or coiled. DERIVATIVES convolutedly adverb … English terms dictionary
convoluted — con|vo|lut|ed [ˈkɔnvəlu:tıd US ˈka:n ] adj [Date: 1600 1700; : Latin; Origin: , past participle of convolvere, from com ( COM ) + volvere to roll ] 1.) complicated and difficult to understand ▪ long paragraphs and convoluted sentences ▪ The… … Dictionary of contemporary English
convoluted — [[t]kɒ̱nvəluːtɪd[/t]] ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If you describe a sentence, idea, or system as convoluted, you mean that it is complicated and difficult to understand. [FORMAL] Despite its length and convoluted plot, Asta s Book is a rich and… … English dictionary
convoluted — adjective 1 complicated and difficult to understand: The whole thing was written in the most convoluted and obscure language possible. | a convoluted argument 2 formal having many twists and bends: They used some convoluted glass apparatus for… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
convoluted — con|vo|lut|ed [ kanvə,lutəd ] adjective 1. ) very complicated, or more complicated than necessary: the novel s convoluted storyline 2. ) MAINLY LITERARY a convoluted shape or surface has many twists and curves … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
