helical
adj. C1 Advanced US //ˈhɛɫɪkəɫ// UK //hˈɛlɪkəl// he·li·cal
adj. shaped like a spiral or a spring. You use this to describe things that twist around a central line, like a DNA strand or a screw.
adj. shaped like a helix, or a spiral that winds around a central axis. Often describes structures in biology, engineering, or mathematics.
The DNA molecule has a famous helical shape.
The staircase was designed with a helical pattern, allowing it to rise smoothly within a small footprint.
The satellite's trajectory followed a helical path around the planet, maintaining a stable orbit while gradually adjusting its altitude for the final descent.
By surface analysis, helic(o)- + -al.