noun

spiral

SPEYE-ruhl

noun

A curve that winds around a center point while moving steadily outward or inward.

"The staircase wound upward in a tight spiral."

A process that keeps building on itself, making it hard to stop.

"The country was caught in a downward spiral of debt and inflation."

verb

To move in a spiral path, or to steadily worsen or increase.

"Costs spiraled out of control after the project was delayed."

"The plane spiraled down through the clouds."

How to Use Spiral

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA winding, coiled shape, or a situation that keeps escalating.

Common pairings

spiral staircase downward spiral costs spiraled

spiraled past tense, spiralled past tense, spirals plural, spirals singular

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The staircase wound upward in a tight _____.

From Latin spīra, itself from Greek speîra, meaning "coil" or "twist."

viral admiral