spiral

[spahy-ruh l] /ˈspaɪ rəl/
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
8.
running continuously around a fixed point or center while constantly receding from or approaching it; coiling in a single plane:
a spiral curve.
9.
coiling around a fixed line or axis in a constantly changing series of planes; helical.
10.
of or of the nature of a spire or coil.
11.
bound with a spiral binding; spiral-bound:
a spiral notebook.
verb (used without object), spiraled, spiraling or (especially British) spiralled, spiralling.
12.
to take a spiral form or course.
13.
to advance or increase steadily; rise:
Costs have been spiraling all year.
14.
Aeronautics. to fly an airplane through a spiral course.
verb (used with object), spiraled, spiraling or (especially British) spiralled, spiralling.
15.
to cause to take a spiral form or course.
Origin
1545-55; < Medieval Latin spīrālis, equivalent to Latin spīr(a) coil (< Greek speîra anything coiled, wreathed, or twisted; see spire2) + -ālis -al1
Related forms
spirality
[spahy-ral-i-tee] /spaɪˈræl ɪ ti/ (Show IPA), noun
spirally, adverb
multispiral, adjective
nonspiral, adjective, noun
subspiral, adjective
subspirally, adverb
unspiral, adjective
unspirally, adverb
unspiraled, adjective
unspiralled, adjective
Examples from the web for spiral
  • The thoroughbred racing industry is in a downward spiral.
  • Fisher showed how such a spiral could turn mere busts into depressions.
  • The theory that galaxies are embedded in dark matter stems from the observation of stars in spiral galaxies.
  • The narwhal's single, spiral tusk has always been a mystery.
  • It was sweeping around in a spiral whose radius kept growing smaller and smaller.
  • From sea shells and spiral galaxies to the structure of human lungs, the patterns of chaos are all around us.
  • What economists mean by real inflation is, of course, a wage-price spiral and that is not happening.
  • The spiral fairly hovered above the landscape, its boundaries of piled rock etched in sharp relief.
  • To do so, the researchers used two specialized laser beams that combined to form a spiral.
  • The eland is a powerful animal with short horns that spiral out from the head.
British Dictionary definitions for spiral

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 = aθ; of logarithmic spiral: log r = aθ; of hyperbolic spiral:rθ = a, (where a is a constant)
2.
another name for helix (sense 1)
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 (sense 16)
5.
(economics) a continuous upward or downward movement in economic activity or prices, caused by interaction between prices, wages, demand, and production
adjective
6.
having the shape of a spiral
verb -rals, -ralling, -ralled (US) -rals, -raling, -raled
7.
to assume or cause to assume a spiral course or shape
8.
(intransitive) to increase or decrease with steady acceleration: wages and prices continue to spiral
Derived Forms
spirally, adverb
Word Origin
C16: via French from Medieval Latin spīrālis, from Latin spīra a coil; see spire²
Word Origin and History for spiral
adj.

1550s, from Middle French spiral, from Medieval Latin spiralis "winding, coiling" (mid-13c.), from Latin spira "coil," from Greek speira "coil, twist, wreath," from PIE *sper- "to turn, twist." Spiral galaxy first attested 1913.

v.

1726 (implied in spiraled), from spiral (n.). Transferred and figurative sense by 1922. Related: Spiraling.

n.

1650s, from spiral (adj.). U.S. football sense is from 1896.

spiral in Medicine

spiral spi·ral (spī'rəl)
adj.
Coiling or developing around an axis in a constantly changing series of planes; helical. n.
A structure in the shape of a coil. v. spi·raled or spi·ralled, spi·ral·ing or spi·ral·ling, spi·rals or spi·rals
To take the form or course of a spiral.

Encyclopedia Article for spiral

plane curve that, in general, winds around a point while moving ever farther from the point. Many kinds of spiral are known, the first dating from the days of ancient Greece. The curves are observed in nature, and human beings have used them in machines and in ornament, notably architectural-for example, the whorl in an Ionic capital. The two most famous spirals are described below.

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