spiral
9
6.2
- noun
- /ˈspaɪrəl/
:
giro en espiral
- Kelly found herself in a downward spiral, with synergistically reinforcing problems amplifying the difficulties she faced in trying to stay healthy.
Examples
-
The airplane executed a spiral maneuver as it descended to land safely.
-
For the next few hours, I watched the ground spiral toward me.
Fiction book (1991) -
In the distance, a thin spiral of smoke rose into the sky.
Fiction book (1996) -
Then, drifting down on a long spiral slide, she dropped to the ground.
Fiction book (1990) -
Few doubt the European automotive industry's downward spiral will get worse before things start to improve.
Blog text (25) -
They said Agent Reed's been on a downward spiral ever since the Woodsboro murders last year.
-
The hawk descended in a graceful spiral, searching for its prey below.
-
She watched the leaves spiral down from the tree in the autumn breeze.
Synonyms
2
7.8
A repeated movement in a circle or spiral
Compounds
- Specialized
5
5.9
A large group of stars with a bright center and curved arms that wind outward
3
1.9
A notebook with a metal or plastic wire along one side that lets pages turn easily
- Specialized
1
9.5
A situation when falling prices and wages cause more falls and make the economy worse
- Specialized
1
8.4
A hand tool that turns screws when you press its spiral handle down
- Archaic
1
8.1
A large group of stars in a flat spiral shape with arms of young stars around an older centre
- Specialized
A wire coiled into a spiral that stores and releases energy to make things turn
- Specialized
A strip of cloth wrapped in overlapping turns around a limb like an arm
Surface Forms
Etymology
Spiral comes from the Latin word spira and the Greek speira, both meaning 'coil' or 'twist'. That coiling image helps: when smoke or a bird moves in wide circles as it goes down, we call that a spiral because it keeps winding as it moves.