Cochleiform
/ˈkɒk.li.ɪ.fɔːrm/noun
Shaped like a snail shell or spiral.
Did you know?The human cochlea was named for its resemblance to a coiled snail shell, and its spiral form is essential for converting sound vibrations into nerve signals.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κοχλίας (kokhทlias)
“Snail; spiral shell”
Classical Latin
Latin
cochlea
“Snail or spiral shell”
Late Latin
Latin
-formis
“Having the shape or form of”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
cochleiformis
“Snail-shaped; resembling a spiral shell”
Modern English
English
cochleiform
“Shaped like a snail shell or spiral”