spiral

American  

[spahy-ruhl] / ˈspaɪ rəl /

noun

• spirals
  plural

1. Geometry. a plane curve generated by a point moving around a fixed point while constantly receding from or approaching it.

2. a helix.

3. a single circle or ring of a spiral or helical curve or object.

4. a spiral or helical object, formation, or form.

5. Aeronautics. a maneuver in which an airplane descends in a helix of small pitch and large radius, with the angle of attack within that of the normal flight range.

6. Football. a type of kick or pass in which the ball turns on its longer axis as it flies through the air.

7. Economics. a continuous increase in costs, wages, prices, etc. inflationary spiral, or a decrease in costs, wages, prices, etc. deflationary spiral.

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adjective

1. running continuously around a fixed point or center while constantly receding from or approaching it; coiling in a single plane.

   a spiral curve.

2. coiling around a fixed line or axis in a constantly changing series of planes; helical.

3. of or of the nature of a spire or coil.

4. bound with a spiral binding; spiral-bound.

   a spiral notebook.

verb (used without object)

• spirals,
  present (3rd person singular)
• spiraled,
  past participle,  past
• spiralled,
  past participle,  past (especially British)
• spiraling,
  present participle
• spiralling
  present participle (especially British)

1. to take a spiral form or course.

2. to advance or increase steadily; rise.

   Costs have been spiraling all year.

3. Aeronautics. to fly an airplane through a spiral course.

verb (used with object)

• spirals,
  present (3rd person singular)
• spiraled,
  past participle,  past
• spiralled,
  past participle,  past (especially British)
• spiraling,
  present participle
• spiralling
  present participle (especially British)

1. to cause to take a spiral form or course.

spiral British  

/ ˈspaɪərəl /

noun

1. geometry one of several plane curves formed by a point winding about a fixed point at an ever-increasing distance from it. Polar equation of Archimedes spiral: r = a θ; of logarithmic spiral: log r = a θ; of hyperbolic spiral: r θ = a, (where a is a constant)

2. another name for helix

3. something that pursues a winding, usually upward, course or that displays a twisting form or shape

4. a flight manoeuvre in which an aircraft descends describing a helix of comparatively large radius with the angle of attack within the normal flight range Compare spin

5. economics a continuous upward or downward movement in economic activity or prices, caused by interaction between prices, wages, demand, and production

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adjective

1. having the shape of a spiral

verb

1. to assume or cause to assume a spiral course or shape

2. (intr) to increase or decrease with steady acceleration

   wages and prices continue to spiral

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• spirality
  noun
• multispiral
  adjective
• nonspiral
  adjective
• subspiral
  adjective
• unspiral
  adjective
• unspiraled
  adjective
• unspiralled
  adjective
• spirally
  adverb
• subspirally
  adverb
• unspirally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• spirals
  plural

Participles

• spiraling
  present
• spiralling
  present
• spiraled
  past
• spiralled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• spiral
  simple
• spirals
  simple
• have spiraled
  perfect
• have spiralled
  perfect
• has spiraled
  perfect
• has spiralled
  perfect
• am spiraling
  progressive
• am spiralling
  progressive
• are spiraling
  progressive
• are spiralling
  progressive
• is spiraling
  progressive
• is spiralling
  progressive
• have been spiraling
  perfect progressive
• have been spiralling
  perfect progressive
• has been spiraling
  perfect progressive
• has been spiralling
  perfect progressive

Past

• spiraled
  simple
• spiralled
  simple
• had spiraled
  perfect
• had spiralled
  perfect
• was spiraling
  progressive
• was spiralling
  progressive
• were spiraling
  progressive
• were spiralling
  progressive
• had been spiraling
  perfect progressive
• had been spiralling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will spiral
  simple
• will have spiraled
  perfect
• will have spiralled
  perfect
• will be spiraling
  progressive
• will be spiralling
  progressive
• will have been spiraling
  perfect progressive
• will have been spiralling
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of spiral

1545–55; < Medieval Latin spīrālis, equivalent to Latin spīr ( a ) coil (< Greek speîra anything coiled, wreathed, or twisted; see spire ²) + -ālis -al ¹

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Explanation

A spiral is a coil or curl, like the shape of a piece of hair wound around your finger, a Slinky toy, or a corkscrew. A curve forming a series of circles that become gradually larger or smaller is one kind of spiral. You can also use the word as a verb when something moves in a spiral shape: "Then the wind died and I watched my kite spiral down to the ground." The origin of spiral is the Medieval Latin spiralis, which means "winding or coiling," from a Greek root: speira, "coil, twist, or wreath."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spiral spirals spiraled spiralled spiraling spiralling

Once the blade is formed, this crucial but sacrificial spiral is cut off.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

"This could spiral out of control," he added, although acknowledging that Trump's other options "aren't terribly good either."

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

This property resembles the way a spiral staircase or screw twists in a particular direction and provides a crucial signature of altermagnetism.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026

As mounting interest charges further widen the deficit, a debt spiral could take hold.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026

I go back to filling in the seams of the baseball I’m doodling on the cover of my spiral.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner

Her husband’s anxiety grows as his film spirals out of control.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Other countries have fallen victim to debt spirals, where high levels of debt lead investors to demand higher interest rates, in turn fueling more borrowing until eventually a country defaults.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

Instead of running in a straight line, the waveguides are arranged in spirals.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

Roll it out cinnamon-roll style, spread with cream cheese, Parmesan, herbs and hot giardiniera, then coil, slice and nestle the spirals together in a buttered skillet.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

Intricate loops and spirals had been carved on either side, ancient hieroglyphs the meaning of which had been lost to the ages.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs

After that, he said, his mental health spiraled.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

Material pulled from the star formed a disk around the black hole and became intensely hot as it spiraled inward.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

But where other artists might have spiraled, White and his compatriots transcended, turning inward while also looking to the stars.

From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026

Her thoughts spiraled: “Is he short circuiting? I thought…Is this a stroke?…Has he been drugged?”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

All kinds of girls zipped around like honeybees, some plopping into cozy armchairs, others perched on the spiraled staircases, and a few clustered around the worktables.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

A runner says he became so consumed by a fitness addiction that he spiralled into anxiety and became sleep deprived.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

The campaigns come one year after protests over lavish perks for lawmakers spiralled into general anti-government anger -- Indonesia's biggest unrest since President Prabowo Subianto took office in 2024.

From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026

Sourcing some additional fans might feel like a relatively minor cost overall, but for those hosting, catering and supplying weddings, the financial impact of coping with this summer's heatwaves have spiralled.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

Burns said in the beginning UWP was legitimate, but Long's actions spiralled out of control due to poor business management and he began using his client's money to keep the company afloat.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

They spiralled towards Ogygia, the warm wind in Leo’s hair.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Insurers are divided over how best to respond to the spiraling risks—and opportunities—from AI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

And now a global energy mess is spiraling and ensnaring more countries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

In satellite images nor'easters can look strikingly like a hurricane, with spiraling clouds forming over the ocean that span hundreds of miles of coastline.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

"Phobos' orbit is dynamically very special; it is very close to Mars, slowly spiraling inward, and will eventually be disrupted or impact Mars," says Haser.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

Two Step nodded and they surged toward the spiraling flock.

From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older

Outside Khartoum, most wheat supplies arrive in the form of aid, but fuel shortages and spiralling prices, along with road closures due to the fighting, prevent deliveries.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

They fear the spiralling cost of living could prevent them from finishing their education and stop them buying or renting a home big enough to start a family.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

But the law has not stopped the spiralling prices and popular discontent.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

Chancellor John Healey said he was "very conscious" of people being hit by spiralling fuel prices caused by international factors.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Frightful spreads her tapered wings and catches a rising thermal of spiralling air.

From "On the Far Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George

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Related Words

• circling
• coiled

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