spiral

n.

1. 1. A curve on a plane that winds around a fixed center point at a continuously increasing or decreasing distance from the point.
   2. A three-dimensional curve that turns around an axis at a constant or continuously varying distance while moving parallel to the axis; a helix.
   3. Something having the form of such a curve: a spiral of black smoke.
2. Printing. A spiral binding.
3. The course or flight path of an object rotating on its longitudinal axis.
4. A continuously accelerating increase or decrease: the wage-price spiral.

adj.

1. Of or resembling a spiral.
2. Circling around a center at a continuously increasing or decreasing distance.
3. Coiling around an axis in a constantly changing series of planes; helical.
4. Printing. Relating to or having a spiral binding: a spiral notebook.

v., -raled, also -ralled, -ral·ing, -ral·ling, -rals, -rals.

v.intr.

1. To take a spiral form or course.
2. To rise or fall with steady acceleration.

v.tr.
To cause to take a spiral form or course.

[Medieval Latin spīrālis, of a spiral, from Latin spīra, coil. See spire².]

spirality spi·ral'i·ty (spī-răl'ĭ-tē) n.
spirally spi'ral·ly adv.

A term used generically to describe any geometrical entity that winds about a central point or axis while also receding from it. Spiral staircases, helices, and nonplanar loxodromes (curves that intersect those of a given class at a constant angle, for example, rhumb lines, in case the curves are on a sphere whose meridians form the given class) are examples of spirals whose windings do not lie in a plane. See also Helix.

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verb

To move or proceed on a repeatedly curving course: coil, corkscrew, curl, entwine, meander, snake, twine, twist, weave, wind², wreathe. See repetition, straight/bent.

adj

Definition: curling, winding
Antonyms: straight, uncurling, unwinding

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A continuously wound reinforcement in the form of a cylindrical helix.

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1. winding like the thread of a screw.
2. a structure curving around a central point or axis.

• Curschmann's s's — see curschmann's spirals.
• s. organ of Corti — see organ of Corti.
• s. penile deviation — a defect in bulls. See corkscrew penis.
• s. septum — the arterial partition between aorta and pulmonary trunk, formed by the fusion of the truncal, bulbar and aorticopulmonary septa of the great vessels attached to the embryonic heart.
• s. worm — Dispharynx nasuta. See synhimantus spiralis.

IN BRIEF: Circling around a center in a curve that keeps growing larger or smaller.

Pick up a pinecone and count the spiral rows of scales. — Stuart Kauffman

Spiraling, either upward or downward, is often used figuratively to refer to the rapid rise and fall of finances. It may also symbolize flux in weather, health, and employment cycles, to name just a few. It can also simply mean that the dreamer feels things are "spiraling out of control."

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Dansk (Danish)
adj. - spiral-, snegleformet, spiralformet, skruesnoet, vindelformet
n. - spiral, sneglevinding, sneglegang, skrue
v. intr. - hvirvle, sno
v. tr. - sno

idioms:

• spiral staircase    vindeltrappe

Nederlands (Dutch)
spiraal, in spiraaltraject bewegen

Français (French)
adj. - spiral, en spirale, en hélice, en colimaçon, (reliure) spirale
n. - (gén, Math, Aviat) spirale, spirale (inflationniste), escalade (de)
v. intr. - (Écon) monter en flèche, monter/descendre en spirale ou en tournoyant, monter/descendre en vrille
v. tr. - faire monter en flèche ou en spirale

idioms:

• spiral staircase    escalier en colimaçon

Deutsch (German)
n. - Spirale
v. - (sich) winden, in einer Spirale aufsteigen
adj. - spiralförmig

idioms:

• spiral staircase    Wendeltreppe

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - έλικας, σπείρα, σπείρωμα, σύστρεμμα, μαιανδρική σωλήνωση, σπιράλ
v. - στροβιλίζομαι, περιελίσσομαι
adj. - ελικοειδής, σπειροειδής, στριφτός

idioms:

• spiral staircase    ελικοειδής σκάλα

Italiano (Italian)
formare una spirale, spirale

idioms:

• spiral staircase    scale a chiocciola

Português (Portuguese)
n. - mola (f), espiral (f) (Mat.)
v. - espiralar, crescer rápida e incontroladamente
adj. - espiral

idioms:

• spiral staircase    escada em caracol (f)

Русский (Russian)
спираль, виток, постепенно ускоряющееся падение или повышение, спиральный, закручивать в спираль, расти, остроконечный

idioms:

• spiral staircase    винтовая лестница

Español (Spanish)
adj. - espiral, helicoidal, de caracol, en forma de chapitel o aguja
n. - espiral, hélice, espira, vuelo en espiral, curva de transición a ascenso
v. intr. - moverse en espiral, tomar forma espiral, volar en espiral
v. tr. - serpentear

idioms:

• spiral staircase    escalera de caracol

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - spiral, snäcklinje
v. - göra spiralformig, röra sig i en spiral, gå upp i en spiral
adj. - spiralformig, snäckformig, spiral-, vindel-

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
螺旋的, 蜷线的, 螺线的, 盘旋的, 螺旋, 蜷线, 螺线, 螺旋形的东西, 盘旋, 螺旋形上升, 成螺旋形, 不断加剧地增加, 使成螺旋形, 使作螺旋形上升

idioms:

• spiral staircase    螺旋式楼梯

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 螺旋的, 蜷線的, 螺線的, 盤旋的
n. - 螺旋, 蜷線, 螺線, 螺旋形的東西
v. intr. - 盤旋, 螺旋形上升, 成螺旋形, 不斷加劇地增加
v. tr. - 使成螺旋形, 使作螺旋形上升

idioms:

• spiral staircase    螺旋式樓梯

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 소용돌이 모양의, 나선형의, 와선의
n. - 나사선, 악순환, (미식 축구) 공이 장축을 중심으로 빙빙 돌도록 차기
v. intr. - 나선형으로 회전하다, (연기 등이) 소용돌이로 올라가다, (착실히) 증가하다
v. tr. - ~에 나사선 코스를 잡게 하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 螺旋, らせん状のもの, 巻き貝, らせん状進行過程
adj. - らせん状の
v. - らせん形になる, らせん状に動く

idioms:

• spiral staircase    らせん階段

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) لولب, مسار حلزوني (فعل) يصعد و يهبط بشكل حلزوني (صفه) حلزوني, لولبي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮בורגי, ספירלי, לולייני‬
n. - ‮סליל, תנועה בורגית‬
v. intr. - ‮הסתלסל, התחלזן‬
v. tr. - ‮עלה או נפל, בד"כ במהירות, סלסל‬

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Spiral Chandelier	spiral speedway
spiral trees	spiral staircase