What does spiral mean?

Definitions for spiral
ˈspaɪ rəlspi·ral

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word spiral.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. spiralnoun

    a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at increasing distances from the center

  2. helix, spiralnoun

    a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle

  3. spiralnoun

    a continuously accelerating change in the economy

  4. spiral, volutenoun

    ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center

  5. coil, spiral, volute, whorl, helixnoun

    a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops

    "a coil of rope"

  6. spiraladjective

    flying downward in a helical path with a large radius

  7. coiling, helical, spiral, spiraling, volute, voluted, whorled, turbinateverb

    in the shape of a coil

  8. gyrate, spiral, coilverb

    to wind or move in a spiral course

    "the muscles and nerves of his fine drawn body were coiling for action"; "black smoke coiling up into the sky"; "the young people gyrated on the dance floor"

  9. spiralverb

    form a spiral

    "The path spirals up the mountain"

  10. corkscrew, spiralverb

    move in a spiral or zigzag course

Wiktionary

  1. spiralnoun

    A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.

  2. spiralnoun

    A helix.

  3. spiralverb

    To move along the path of a spiral or helix.

    The falling leaves spiralled down from the tree.

  4. spiralverb

    To increase continually.

    Her debts were spiralling out of control.

  5. spiraladjective

    Helical, like a spiral

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Spiraladjective

    Curve; winding; circularly involved.

    Etymology: spirale, Fr. from spira, Latin.

    The process of the fibres in the ventricles, running in spiral lines from the tip to the base of the heart, shews that the systole of the heart is a muscular constriction, as a purse is shut by drawing the strings contrary ways. John Ray.

    Why earth or sun diurnal stages keep?
    In spiral tracts why through the zodiack creep? Richard Blackmore.

    The intestinal tube affects a straight, instead of a spiral cylinder. John Arbuthnot, on Aliments.

Wikipedia

  1. Spiral

    In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving farther away as it revolves around the point.

ChatGPT

  1. spiral

    A spiral is a continuous and gradually widening or tightening curve that either extends outward or appears to move towards a central point, often found in natural formations and structures. It can either move in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The concept of spiral is often used in mathematics, science, art, and nature, represented in various forms like the structure of galaxies, DNA, seashells, or patterns of growth and movement.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Spiraladjective

    winding or circling round a center or pole and gradually receding from it; as, the spiral curve of a watch spring

  2. Spiraladjective

    winding round a cylinder or imaginary axis, and at the same time rising or advancing forward; winding like the thread of a screw; helical

  3. Spiraladjective

    of or pertaining to a spiral; like a spiral

  4. Spiraladjective

    a plane curve, not reentrant, 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 called the pole. Cf. Helix

  5. Spiraladjective

    anything which has a spiral form, as a spiral shell

  6. Etymology: [Cf. F. spirale. See Spiral, a.]

Wikidata

  1. Spiral

    In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a central point, getting progressively farther away as it revolves around the point.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Spiral

    spī′ral, adj. pertaining to, or like, a spire: winding like the thread of a screw.—n. a spiral line: a curve which continually recedes from a centre about which it revolves: a screw.—n. Spiral′ity.—adv. Spī′rally, in a spiral form or direction.—adj. Spirā′ted, spiral, whorled.

The Standard Electrical Dictionary

  1. Spiral

    This term is sometimes used instead of coil, as the primary spiral or secondary spiral of an induction coil or transformer.

Suggested Resources

  1. spiral

    The spiral symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the spiral symbol and its characteristic.

  2. spiral

    Song lyrics by spiral -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by spiral on the Lyrics.com website.

Entomology

  1. Spiral

    rolled up like a watch spring, or twisted like a cork-screw. {Scanner's comment: Nowadays it is more correct to regard the corkscrew as helical and the watch spring as spiral.}

Anagrams for spiral »

  1. Aprils

  2. prisal

How to pronounce spiral?

How to say spiral in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of spiral in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of spiral in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of spiral in a Sentence

  1. Steve Arneson:

    It will spiral on you.

  2. Vanna Bonta:

    Looking up and out, how can we not respect this ever-vigilant cognizance that distinguishes us: the capability to envision, to dream, and to invent? the ability to ponder ourselves? and be aware of our existence on the outer arm of a spiral galaxy in an immeasurable ocean of stars? Cognizance is our crest.

  3. Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech:

    The desire of the radical activists was to spiral the day out of control.

  4. Independent Commodity Intelligence Services.Glass:

    Some businesses have seen their energy bills spiral four and even up to eight-fold, meaning an extra burden of millions of pounds a month which simply can not continue, these costs will inevitably have to be passed on to customers and consumers at a time when the cost of living is already increasing.

  5. Barbara Lee:

    Our country is in a state of mourning. Some of us must say let's step back for a moment, let's just pause, just for a minute and think through the implications of our actions today so that this does not spiral out of control.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for spiral

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"spiral." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 2 Jun 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/spiral>.

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