[
UK
/spˈaɪəɹəl/
]
[ US /ˈspaɪɹəɫ/ ]
[ US /ˈspaɪɹəɫ/ ]
NOUN
-
a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops
a coil of rope - flying downward in a helical path with a large radius
- a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at increasing distances from the center
- a continuously accelerating change in the economy
- ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center
- a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle
VERB
-
to wind or move in a spiral course
the young people gyrated on the dance floor
black smoke coiling up into the sky
the muscles and nerves of his fine drawn body were coiling for action - move in a spiral or zigzag course
-
form a spiral
The path spirals up the mountain
ADJECTIVE
- in the shape of a coil
How To Use spiral In A Sentence
- A common arrangement is the positioning of single leaves spirally up the stem, which can sometimes form a striking helical pattern in the shoot apex.
- The goal to attack the spiralling cost of public services may be laudable, but the precedent is dangerous.
- Then just Digg your uploads in a viral spiral to your social networks via an FB/MS interlink torrent. Boing Boing
- Amateurs can easily fill the tubes using simple agricultural tools, after which bags are arranged in a spiral that is gradually corbelled inwards as it ascends to form a dome.
- Combined with customers who would steer clear of Detroit brands because of uncertainty surrounding maintenance warranties, a messy bankruptcy could have have kicked off a vicious downward spiral that could have ended in liquidation and enormous job losses. Wonk Room » If We Had Let GM Go Bankrupt Last November, We Could Have Lost Another Million Jobs
- Anyone climbing the ladder to the loft is suspended above the vertical spiral stairwell - not recommended for those nervous of heights.
- In the second example the rosette is substituted for the inner curves of the spiral, and the intermediate space is filled in with the true lotus motive. Pharaohs, Fellahs and Explorers
- Down the spiral path of the pit they bore him, encircling the sheening, glowing Red One that seemed ever imminent to iridesce from colour and light into sweet singing and thunder. THE RED ONE
- The whole thing is a downward spiral. Times, Sunday Times
- In the beginning, I had visions of a fabulous, sweeping, Perspex spiral staircase, ignorant of the fact that this would cost about £35,000.