involution

Noun
Synonyms: elaboratenesselaborationintricacyengagementparticipationinvolvementexponentiationenfolding

WordNet 3.0

Noun (6)

  1. reduction in size of an organ or part (as in the return of the uterus to normal size after childbirth)
  2. a long and intricate and complicated grammatical construction
  3. marked by elaborately complex detailSynonyms: elaboratenesselaborationintricacy
  4. the act of sharing in the activities of a group“the teacher tried to increase his students' engagement in class activities”Synonyms: engagementparticipationinvolvement
  5. the process of raising a quantity to some assigned powerSynonyms: exponentiation
  6. the action of enfolding somethingSynonyms: enfolding
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Involution \In`vo*lu"tion\, n. [L. involutio: cf. F. involution. See Involve.] [1913 Webster]

1.The act of involving or infolding. [1913 Webster]

2.The state of being entangled or involved; complication; entanglement. [1913 Webster]

All things are mixed, and causes blended, by mutual involutions.— Glanvill.[1913 Webster]

3.That in which anything is involved, folded, or wrapped; envelope. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

4.(Gram.) The insertion of one or more clauses between the subject and the verb, in a way that involves or complicates the construction. [1913 Webster]

5.(Math.) The act or process of raising a quantity to any power assigned; the multiplication of a quantity into itself a given number of times; -- the reverse of evolution. [1913 Webster]

6.(Geom.) The relation which exists between three or more sets of points, a.a', b.b', c.c', so related to a point O on the line, that the product Oa.Oa' = Ob.Ob' = Oc.Oc' is constant. Sets of lines or surfaces possessing corresponding properties may be in involution. [1913 Webster]

7.(Med.) The return of an enlarged part or organ to its normal size, as of the uterus after pregnancy. [1913 Webster]

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