spiral
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for spiral, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A curve that winds around a center point while moving steadily outward or inward.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use spiral
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin spīra, itself from Greek speîra, meaning "coil" or "twist."
Full origin of spiral →Frequently asked questions
What does “spiral” mean?
The word “spiral” means a curve that winds around a center point while moving steadily outward or inward. In plain terms, a winding, coiled shape, or a situation that keeps escalating.
How do you pronounce “spiral”?
“Spiral” is pronounced SPEYE-ruhl (/ˈspaɪɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “spiral” in a sentence?
Here is “spiral” used in a sentence: “The staircase wound upward in a tight spiral.”
What part of speech is “spiral”?
Depending on how it is used, “spiral” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “spiral” come from?
The word “spiral” comes from Latin. From Latin spīra, itself from Greek speîra, meaning "coil" or "twist.".
Is “spiral” a common word?
“Spiral” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “spiral” have?
“Spiral” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a curve that winds around a center point while moving steadily outward or inward.
What is the difference between a spiral and a helix?
A spiral is a curve that winds around a center point while moving steadily outward or inward, typically flat or two-dimensional in its basic sense, while a helix winds around an axis while also extending in three dimensions, like a spring or a screw thread. In casual usage the two words are sometimes used loosely for each other, but technically they describe different shapes.
What does it mean when something is described as a downward spiral?
A downward spiral describes a process that keeps building on itself in a negative direction, making it increasingly hard to stop, such as a spiral of debt or declining mental health. It draws on the sense of spiral as a self-reinforcing process rather than the geometric curve.
Can spiral be used as a verb?
Yes, spiral can be used as a verb meaning either to move in a spiral path physically, or figuratively to steadily worsen or increase, as in "costs began to spiral out of control."