convolution
UK[ˌkɒnvəˈluːʃn]US[ˌkɑːnvəˈluːʃn]
n
A thing that is complex, intricate, and difficult to follow.
n
A form or shape that is coiled or twisted.
n
(Mathematics) A function derived from two given functions by integration, expressing how the shape of one is modified by the other.
Morpheme Breakdown
con
volut
ion
con
together
volut
roll
ion
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'convolution' originates from the Latin verb convolvere, meaning "to roll together" or "to entwine." This verb itself is a compound of the prefix con- (together) and volvere (to roll). The past participle form, convolutus, gave rise to the Late Latin noun convolution-, which entered English in the mid-16th century. The literal sense of a coiled or rolled-up shape evolved naturally into the modern abstract meanings of complexity and intricacy, as a tangled coil is difficult to unravel and understand. The mathematical sense, developed in the 20th century, retains the core idea of one function being "rolled together with" another.
Analysis
Structure: con (together) + volut (roll) + ion (noun suffix)
- con: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "together, with, thoroughly."
- volut: Latin origin, from the past participle stem of volvere, meaning "to roll."
- ion: Latin origin, a suffix forming nouns denoting action or condition.
Examples
The plot of the novel was a convolution of flashbacks and unreliable narrators.
The artist captured the beautiful convolution of a seashell's interior.
The convolution of the two signals produced a new output pattern.