spiral
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 ).
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.
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.
to cause to take a spiral form or course.
Origin of spiral
1Other words from spiral
- spi·ral·i·ty [spahy-ral-i-tee], /spaɪˈræl ɪ ti/, 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use spiral in a sentence
Those cleared included homes with mounting coronavirus outbreaks before or during the inspections, as well as those that saw cases and deaths spiral upward after inspectors reported no violations had been found, in some cases multiple times.
As pandemic raged and thousands died, government regulators cleared most nursing homes of infection-control violations | Debbie Cenziper, Joel Jacobs, Shawn Mulcahy | October 29, 2020 | Washington PostBeyond the spiral arms of our galaxy lies a giant halo of hot gas.
Meet the disk-shaped halo of hot gas you currently live in | Kate Baggaley | October 21, 2020 | Popular-ScienceMultiple poll workers withdrew during the April primary as the pandemic spiraled out of control.
Wisconsin early voting kicks off amid surge in coronavirus cases | Derek Hawkins, Dan Simmons | October 20, 2020 | Washington PostThis tension could spiral into various unpleasant scenarios of varying danger or risk to the country.
Mike Pence does not seem prepared to save the republic, should he be called upon to do so | Philip Bump | October 8, 2020 | Washington PostDeprived of his right to exercise his talent, Taku SEKINE, who lived for the kitchen, within two months locked himself in a violent spiral of depression.
The Atlantis was spiralling up to her ten-thousand-foot level, and in a moment or two she was nothing more than a speck.
The Air Pirate | Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger GullIn a few more strides, Alex would be over its outer perimeter spiralling down endless chutes of dirt.
The Land of Look Behind | Paul Cameron BrownAll these great continental and oceanic systems of spiralling winds are important climatic controls.
That hill is not a badly spiralling one, but it is long and steep and usually ridden with brakes.
Dangerous Ages | Rose MacaulayThe volan was fluttering, spiralling slowly as Georg struggled to hold his place.
Tarrano the Conqueror | Raymond King Cummings
British Dictionary definitions for spiral
/ (ˈspaɪərəl) /
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 range: Compare spin (def. 16)
economics a continuous upward or downward movement in economic activity or prices, caused by interaction between prices, wages, demand, and production
having the shape of a spiral
to assume or cause to assume a spiral course or shape
(intr) to increase or decrease with steady acceleration: wages and prices continue to spiral
Origin of spiral
1Derived forms of spiral
- spirally, adverb
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
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