spiral
SPEYE-ruhl
Spiral (noun) means a curve that winds around a center point while moving steadily outward or inward. Example: “The staircase wound upward in a tight spiral.”
noun
1
A curve that winds around a center point while moving steadily outward or inward.
"The staircase wound upward in a tight spiral."
"The snail's shell has a neat spiral on its back."
"Smoke rose from the chimney in a thin grey spiral."
2
A process that keeps building on itself, making it hard to stop.
"The country was caught in a downward spiral of debt and inflation."
"Arguing late at night sent the couple into a spiral of tiredness and bad moods."
"Missing one payment can start a spiral of fees that is hard to escape."
verb
1
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."
"Sycamore seeds spiral gently down to the ground in autumn."
How to use spiral
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA winding, coiled shape, or a situation that keeps escalating.
Common pairings
spiral staircase
downward spiral
costs spiraled
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Word forms
- Plural
- spirals
- Third person singular
- spirals
- Past tense
- spiraled, spiralled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The staircase wound upward in a tight _____.
Etymology
From Latin spīra, itself from Greek speîra, meaning "coil" or "twist."
Related words
Rhymes for spiral
See all rhymes for 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."
