spiral
- spiral
- [[t]spa͟ɪ͟ərəl[/t]]
spirals, spiralling, spiralled
(in AM, use spiraling, spiraled)
1) N-COUNT A spiral is a shape which winds round and round, with each curve above or outside the previous one.
Spiral is also an adjective.
...a spiral staircase.
2) V-ERG If something spirals or is spiralled somewhere, it grows or moves in a spiral curve.
[V adv/prep] Vines spiraled upward toward the roof.
[V adv/prep] ...a bullet spiralling out of a gun barrel...
[V n] A joss stick spiralled smoke. [Also V]
N-COUNT
Spiral is also a noun.
Larks were rising in spirals from the ridge.
3) VERB If an amount or level spirals, it rises quickly and at an increasing rate.
Production costs began to spiral.
...a spiralling trend of violence...
[V adv/prep] The divorce rate is spiralling upwards.
Spiral is also a noun.
...an inflationary spiral.
4) VERB If an amount or level spirals downwards, it falls quickly and at an increasing rate.
[V adv/prep] House prices will continue to spiral downwards.
Spiral is also a noun.
...a spiral of debt.
English dictionary.
2008.
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Look at other dictionaries:
spiral — spiral, ale, aux [ spiral, o ] adj. • 1534; lat. scolast. spiralis, de spira → spire ♦ Rare (sauf avec quelques n.) Qui a la forme d une courbe tournant autour d un pôle dont elle s éloigne. Courbe, ligne spirale. Ressort spiral : ressort plat… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Spiral — Spi ral, a. [Cf. F. spiral. See {Spire} a winding line.] 1. Winding or circling round a center or pole and gradually receding from it; as, the spiral curve of a watch spring. [1913 Webster] 2. Winding round a cylinder or imaginary axis, and at… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spiral — [spī′rəl] adj. [ML spiralis < L spira, a coil < Gr speira: see SPIRE1] 1. circling around a central point in a flat, two dimensional curve that constantly increases (or decreases) in size 2. circling around a central axis in a conical or… … English World dictionary
spiral — SPIRÁL, Ă, spirali, e, s.f., adj. 1. s.f. Curbă plană deschisă care se roteşte (sau se înfăşoară) în jurul unui punct fix; p. ext. obiect care are această formă. 2. adj. Care are formă de spirală (1); spiralat. – Din fr. spiral. Trimis de RACAI,… … Dicționar Român
Spiral — Spi ral, n. [Cf. F. spirale. See {Spiral}, a.] 1. (Geom.) A plane curve, not re[ e]ntrant, described by a point, called the generatrix, moving along a straight line according to a mathematical law, while the line is revolving about a fixed point… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Spiral — студийный альбом Уэхары Хироми Дата выпуска 16 Января 2006 Жанры Джаз, джаз фьюжн Длительность 73:09 Лейбл … Википедия
spiral — spiral, ale (spi ral, ra l ) adj. 1° Qui a la figure d une spire ou d une spirale. Ligne spirale. Ressorts spiraux. 2° S. m. Terme d horlogerie. Le spiral d une montre, le petit ressort sous l action duquel oscille le balancier qui règle l… … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
spiral — SPIRAL, [spir]ale. adj. Terme de Geometrie, Qui se dit d une ligne qui va tousjours en tournant, & en s esloignant de son premier point. Ligne spirale. ressort spiral. monstre à ressort spiral … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
spiral — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ winding in a continuous curve around a central point or axis. ► NOUN 1) a spiral curve, shape, or pattern. 2) a progressive rise or fall of prices, wages, etc., each responding to an upward or downward stimulus provided by a… … English terms dictionary
Spiral — bezeichnet eine Spirale, eine Manga Serie und eine darauf basierende Anime Serie, siehe Spiral – Suiri no Kizuna, ein Projekt der Sowjetunion, 1965 bis 1976, zur Entwicklung eines wiederverwendbaren Raumfahrzeuges, siehe MiG 105 … Deutsch Wikipedia
spiral — [adj] curling, winding circling, circular, circumvoluted, cochlear, coiled, corkscrew, curled, helical, helicoid, radial, rolled, screwshaped, scrolled, tendrillar, tortile, voluted, whorled, wound; concept 486 Ant. straight, uncurling, unwinding … New thesaurus
