spiral

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈspaɪɹəl/

Noun

spiral (plural spirals)

1. (geometry) A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.
2. (informal) A helix.
3. A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.

Translations

• French: spirale
• German: Spirale
• Italian: spirale
• Portuguese: espiral
• Russian: спира́ль
• Spanish: espiral

Translations

• French: hélice
• Italian: bovolo
• Russian: спира́ль
• Spanish: hélice

Translations

• Italian: spirale

Adjective

spiral (not comparable)

1. Helical, like a spiral

Verb

spiral (spirals, present participle spiraling; past and past participle spiraled)

1. (intransitive) To move along the path of a spiral or helix.

   The falling leaves spiralled down from the tree.

2. (transitive) To cause something to spiral.

   You need to learn how to spiral a ball.

3. (figuratively, intransitive) To increase continually.

   Her debts were spiralling out of control.

Translations

• French: spiraler
• Italian: aumentare vertiginosamente

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