helix
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helix
A three-dimensional, spiral-shaped curve that winds around a central axis with a constant slope, similar to the shape of a screw line or a spiral staircase.
Die Wendeltreppe im Turm steigt in Form einer perfekten Helix nach oben.
The spiral staircase in the tower rises upward in the form of a perfect helix.
'Helix' is a technical term from geometry, architecture, and the natural sciences, especially biology and chemistry. In everyday conversation, the word 'Spirale' (spiral) is usually used instead.
In der Architektur findet man die Helix-Form oft bei Wendeltreppen.
In architecture, the helix shape is often found in spiral staircases.
You can recognize the exact meaning of 'Helix' from the context. If you are talking about architecture or mathematics, the geometric shape is meant. In biology or genetics, it almost always refers to the screw-shaped structure of molecules such as DNA.
Die Form der Rutsche ist eine perfekte Helix.
The shape of the slide is a perfect helix.
The word comes from Greek. In scientific or technical texts, the foreign plural 'Helices' is therefore often used when referring to several spiral structures.
Die Sekundärstruktur des Proteins besteht aus mehreren Helices und Faltblättern.
The secondary structure of the protein consists of several helices and beta sheets.
In a biological context, by far the most common and important collocation is 'Doppel-Helix' (double helix). This term describes the structure of the DNA molecule and is a fixed expression.
Watson und Crick beschrieben 1953 die Doppel-Helix-Struktur der DNA.
Watson and Crick described the double-helix structure of DNA in 1953.
spiral
'Spirale' and 'Helix' both describe a winding shape. 'Spirale' is used generally for a line or shape that winds around a center, often thought of as flat or as a simple shape. 'Helix' is more precise and means a three-dimensional screw-like shape that winds up or down around an axis. The words can be confusing because a helix often looks spiral-shaped. In everyday language, 'Spirale' is more natural; in technology, science, or when describing precise shapes, 'Helix' fits better.
Die Treppe im Turm hat die Form einer Helix.
The staircase in the tower has the shape of a helix.
Auf dem Blatt zeichnet Lena eine Spirale von der Mitte nach außen.
On the sheet of paper, Lena draws a spiral from the center outward.