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