v. t. [ L. devolutus, p. p. of devolvere. See Devolve. ] To devolve. [ Obs. ] Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. evolutus unrolled, p. p. of evolvere. See Evolve. ] (Geom.) A curve from which another curve, called the involute or evolvent, is described by the end of a thread gradually wound upon the former, or unwound from it. See Involute. It is the locus of the centers of all the circles which are osculatory to the given curve or evolvent. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Any curve may be an evolute, the term being applied to it only in its relation to the involute. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. revolutus, p. p. of revolvere. See Revolve. ] (Bot. & Zool.) Rolled backward or downward. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A revolute leaf is coiled downwards, with the lower surface inside the coil. A leaf with revolute margins has the edges rolled under, as in the Andromeda polifilia. [ 1913 Webster ]