spiral

 
Pronunciation: /ˈspʌɪr(ə)l/

adjective

  • winding in a continuous and gradually widening (or tightening) curve, either around a central point on a flat plane or about an axis so as to form a cone: a spiral pattern
  • winding in a continuous curve of constant diameter about a central axis, as though along a cylinder; helical.
  • (of a stairway) constantly turning in one direction as it rises, around a solid or open centre: a wrought-iron spiral staircase
  • Medicine (of a fracture) curving round a long bone lengthwise.
  • short for spiral-bound. a spiral notebook

noun

  • 1a spiral curve, shape, pattern, or object: a spiral of smoke
  • Astronomyshort for spiral galaxy.
  • 2a progressive rise or fall of prices, wages, etc., each responding to an upward or downward stimulus provided by a previous one: an inflationary spiral
  • a process of deterioration through the continuous increase or decrease of a specified feature: this spiral of deprivation and environmental degradation

verb (spirals, spiralling, spiralled; US spirals, spiraling, spiraled)

  • 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] move in a spiral course: a wisp of smoke spiralled up from the trees
  • [with object and adverbial] cause to have a spiral shape or follow a spiral course: spiral the bandage round the limb
  • 2 [no object] show a continuous and dramatic increase: inflation continued to spiral (as adjective spiralling) he needed to relax after the spiralling tensions of the day
  • (spiral down/downward) decrease or deteriorate continuously: he expects the figures to spiral down further

Derivatives

spirally

adverb

Origin:

mid 16th century (as an adjective): from medieval Latin spiralis, from Latin spira 'coil' (see spire2)

Spelling rule

Double the l when adding endings which begin with a vowel to words which end in a vowel plus l (as in travel): (spirals, spiralling, spiralled).