spiral

[ spahy-ruhl ]

/ ˈspaɪ rəl /

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See synonyms for: spiral / spiraled / spiraling / spiralled on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

a helix.

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

a spiral or helical object, formation, or form.

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.

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

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

adjective

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

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

of or of the nature of a spire or coil.

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.

to take a spiral form or course.

to advance or increase steadily; rise: Costs have been spiraling all year.

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.

to cause to take a spiral form or course.

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Origin of spiral

1545–55; <Medieval Latin spīrālis, equivalent to Latin spīr(a) coil (<Greek speîra anything coiled, wreathed, or twisted; see spire²) + -ālis-al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM spiral

spi·ral·i·ty

[spahy-ral-i-tee], /spaɪˈræl ɪ ti/, nounspi·ral·ly, adverbmul·ti·spi·ral, adjectivenon·spi·ral, adjective, noun

sub·spi·ral, adjectivesub·spi·ral·ly, adverbun·spi·ral, adjectiveun·spi·ral·ly, adverbun·spi·raled, adjectiveun·spi·ralled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use spiral in a sentence

Flying saucers hover here and there, red spirals echo the poster for Alfred Hitchcock’s movie “Vertigo,” and the general trippiness is a flashback to acid-rock light shows.
In the galleries: The Washington colorists and the CIA|Mark Jenkins|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
In restaurants, the consequences of the death spiral of pandemic mismanagement are glaringly obvious, and speak to a larger breakdown in public life.
Restaurants and the People Who Work in Them Need a Bailout. Let’s Finally Give Them One.|Meghan McCarron|November 19, 2020|Eater
The whales with spiraled tusks jutting from their heads have been known to live in small groups that, at times, come together to form large pods.
A 28-year-old ‘nerd’ in Baltimore invented a new type of mask, and tapped into the strangeness of this 2020 holiday season|Theresa Vargas|November 18, 2020|Washington Post
Life’s stresses cloud my thinking and I spiral into a downward circle of frustration, fear and doubt.
Friday feedback: Defending democracy, finding purpose|Alan Murray|November 13, 2020|Fortune

In 2007, we were watching someone spiral away from the constraint of her managers and image-handlers and ultimately even out of her own control.
Why Britney Spears’s fans are convinced she’s being held captive|Constance Grady|November 11, 2020|Vox
So, only when you have spiraling matter down do you get these ferocious, black hole jets.
Neil deGrasse Tyson Breaks Down ‘Interstellar’: Black Holes, Time Dilations, and Massive Waves|Marlow Stern|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A shock or recession could send deficits spiraling much higher.
The Battle of the Deficit Bulge Has Been Won|Daniel Gross|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Authorities in Hong Kong, at least for the moment, have lost control of spiraling protests in the city.
Hong Kong Protesters Fear Martial Law Is Coming|Gordon G. Chang|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Spiraling gun violence has earned Chicago the nickname Chiraq.
Obama, Why Aren’t You in Chiraq?|Michael Daly|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Have you ever found yourself spiraling a bit out of control on booze or drugs?
James McAvoy on ‘Filth,’ His Wild Bachelor Party, and BB Gun Fights with Jennifer Lawrence|Marlow Stern|May 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He lay on the rocks and sand, his mind spiraling toward unconsciousness, and let his body make its own recovery.
The Sensitive Man|Poul William Anderson
The squadron was spiraling upward in close formation with his plane above them when the enemy struck.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, November, 1930|Various
Hands were laid on him and the roughness with which he was moved sent Ross spiraling back into the dark once again.
The Time Traders|Andre Norton
The spark descended rather slowly, with a spiraling movement, and trailing the heavy smoke.
Our Part in the Great War|Arthur Gleason
They then ascended interminable moldy stone steps spiraling upward in a circular shaft.
Astounding Stories, June, 1931|Various

British Dictionary definitions for spiral

spiral

/ (ˈspaɪərəl) /

noun

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)

another name for helix (def. 1)

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

a flight manoeuvre in which an aircraft descends describing a helix of comparatively large radius with the angle of attack within the normal flight rangeCompare spin (def. 16)

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

adjective

having the shape of a spiral

verb -rals, -ralling or -ralled or US -rals, -raling or -raled

to assume or cause to assume a spiral course or shape

(intr) to increase or decrease with steady accelerationwages and prices continue to spiral

Derived forms of spiral

spirally, adverb

Word Origin for spiral

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for spiral

spiral

[ spī′rəl ]

adj.

Coiling or developing around an axis in a constantly changing series of planes; helical.

A structure in the shape of a coil.

To take the form or course of a spiral.

spiral

Origin of spiral

OTHER WORDS FROM spiral

Words related to spiral

How to use spiral in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for spiral

Derived forms of spiral

Word Origin for spiral

Medical definitions for spiral