spiral

[ spahy-ruhl ]

noun

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.

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)

, spi·raled, spi·ral·ing or (especially British) spi·ralled, spi·ral·ling.

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)

, spi·raled, spi·ral·ing or (especially British) spi·ralled, spi·ral·ling.

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

spiral

/ 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. See helix
   another name for helix
3. something that pursues a winding, usually upward, course or that displays a twisting form or shape
4. See spin
   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

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

Derived Forms

• ˈspirally, adverb

Other Words From

• spi·ral·i·ty [spahy-, ral, -i-tee], noun
• spiral·ly adverb
• multi·spiral adjective
• non·spiral adjective noun
• sub·spiral adjective
• sub·spiral·ly adverb
• un·spiral adjective
• un·spiral·ly adverb
• un·spiraled adjective
• un·spiralled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiral¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiral¹

C16: via French from Medieval Latin spīrālis, from Latin spīra a coil; see spire ²

Example Sentences

India’s healthcare system has spiralled into total chaos following the Covid-19 outbreak.

From Quartz

It’s possible, too, that some of the partisan divides we’re seeing now could start to narrow as outbreaks spiral out of control in states like Arizona, Florida and Texas.

From FiveThirtyEight

Images from the telescopes show a spiral disk of gas and dust surrounding AB Aurigae.

From Science News For Students

It likely has spiral arms, too, the scientists say — just like the Milky Way.

From Science News For Students

Our spirals might all trace back to an unexpected influence from cosmic rays.

From Quanta Magazine

The now-convicted felons will hear their sentences in January, but their story continues to spiral downward.

From The Daily Beast

This downward spiral involving local power politics was obvious to the Americans in the valley.

From The Daily Beast

Without those subsidies, the worst-case scenario has Obamacare entering a fiscal death spiral.

From The Daily Beast

To his fellow survivors and to the audience, this delusion indicates another slip on a downward spiral.

From The Daily Beast

In 2008, it was looking at a death spiral: cut credit ratings, claims on the policies, and collateral calls.

From The Daily Beast

The organism is an actively motile spiral thread, about four times the diameter of a red corpuscle in length.

From Project Gutenberg

See that silver spiral going out from Venus and around the table to the orbit of Saturn?

From Project Gutenberg

Spirochte pallida is an extremely slender, spiral, motile thread, with pointed ends.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon ulcerated surfaces it is often mingled with other spiral micro-organisms, which adds to the difficulty of its detection.

From Project Gutenberg

The palpi of the male are in this species each provided with a spiral screw resembling the tendril of a vine.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• circling
• coiled