SPIRAL


Meaning of SPIRAL in English

I. ˈspī-rəl adjective

Etymology: Medieval Latin spiralis, from Latin spira coil — more at spire

Date: 1551

1.

a. : winding around a center or pole and gradually receding from or approaching it

the spiral curve of a watch spring

b. : helical

c. : spiral-bound

a spiral notebook

2. : of or relating to the advancement to higher levels through a series of cyclical movements

• spi·ral·ly -rə-lē adverb

II. noun

Date: 1656

1.

a. : the path of a point in a plane moving around a central point while continuously receding from or approaching it

b. : a three-dimensional curve (as a helix) with one or more turns about an axis

2. : a single turn or coil in a spiral object

3. : something having a spiral form as:

a. : spiral galaxy

b.

(1) : a spiral flight

(2) : a kick or pass in which a football rotates on its long axis while moving through the air

4. : a continuously spreading and accelerating increase or decrease

wage spiral s

III. verb

( -raled or -ralled ; -ral·ing or -ral·ling )

Date: 1834

intransitive verb

: to go and especially to rise or fall in a spiral course

costs spiral ed upward

transitive verb

1. : to form into a spiral

2. : to cause to spiral

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.