Having the shape or properties of a helicoid; spiral-shaped or resembling a helical surface.
From helicoid + -al (adjective suffix). Turns the noun helicoid into an adjective to describe things with helicoid qualities.
Bacterial flagella move with helicoidal waves—the whip-like tail spins like a screw propeller, which is why scientists can calculate exactly how bacteria 'swim' through liquid using physics equations designed for drill bits and propellers.
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