spiral
5 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
spirals
plural
spirals
Britannica Dictionary definition of SPIRAL
[count]
1
:
a circular curving line that goes around a central point while getting closer to or farther away from it
-
The glider flew in a wide spiral over the field.
2
:
a situation in which something continuously increases, decreases, or gets worse
— usually singular
-
an inflationary spiral [=a continuous increase in prices]
-
a spiral of problems
-
Gas prices continued their dizzying upward spiral. [=gas prices got higher]
-
His drug use drove him into a downward spiral. [=his condition became worse and worse]
3
American football
:
a kick or throw in which the ball spins while moving through the air
-
The quarterback threw a tight spiral to the receiver.
2
spiral
/ˈspaɪrəl/
verb
spirals
US
spiraled
or British
spiralled
US
spiraling
or British
spiralling
2
spiral
/ˈspaɪrəl/
verb
spirals
US
spiraled
or British
spiralled
US
spiraling
or British
spiralling
Britannica Dictionary definition of SPIRAL
[no object]
1
always followed by an adverb or preposition
:
to move in a circle around a central point while getting closer to or farther away from it
:
to move in a spiral
-
Smoke spiraled up from the chimney.
-
Vultures spiraled [=circled] overhead.
-
The airplane spiraled to the ground and crashed.
2
:
to greatly increase, decrease, or get worse in a continuous and usually fast and uncontrolled way
-
The unemployment rate has been spiraling upward.
-
The stock market is spiraling downward.
-
spiraling [=rapidly increasing] costs
-
Let's deal with this crisis before it spirals out of control.
3
spiral
/ˈspaɪrəl/
adjective
3
spiral
/ˈspaɪrəl/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of SPIRAL
always used before a noun
:
winding or circling around a central point and usually getting closer to or farther away from it
:
shaped or moving like a spiral
-
a spiral seashell
-
a spiral driveway
