spiral

spiral
I. 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 • spirally 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 spirals
>
III. verb (-raled or -ralled; -raling or -ralling) Date: 1834 intransitive verb to go and especially to rise or fall in a spiral course <
costs spiraled upward
>
transitive verb 1. to form into a spiral 2. to cause to spiral

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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Synonyms:
(like the thread of a screw), , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • spiral — spiral, ale, aux [ spiral, o ] adj. • 1534; lat. scolast. spiralis, de spira → spire ♦ Rare (sauf avec quelques n.) Qui a la forme d une courbe tournant autour d un pôle dont elle s éloigne. Courbe, ligne spirale. Ressort spiral : ressort plat… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Spiral — Spi ral, a. [Cf. F. spiral. See {Spire} a winding line.] 1. Winding or circling round a center or pole and gradually receding from it; as, the spiral curve of a watch spring. [1913 Webster] 2. Winding round a cylinder or imaginary axis, and at… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spiral — [spī′rəl] adj. [ML spiralis < L spira, a coil < Gr speira: see SPIRE1] 1. circling around a central point in a flat, two dimensional curve that constantly increases (or decreases) in size 2. circling around a central axis in a conical or… …   English World dictionary

  • spiral — SPIRÁL, Ă, spirali, e, s.f., adj. 1. s.f. Curbă plană deschisă care se roteşte (sau se înfăşoară) în jurul unui punct fix; p. ext. obiect care are această formă. 2. adj. Care are formă de spirală (1); spiralat. – Din fr. spiral. Trimis de RACAI,… …   Dicționar Român

  • Spiral — Spi ral, n. [Cf. F. spirale. See {Spiral}, a.] 1. (Geom.) A plane curve, not re[ e]ntrant, described by a point, called the generatrix, moving along a straight line according to a mathematical law, while the line is revolving about a fixed point… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Spiral — студийный альбом Уэхары Хироми Дата выпуска 16 Января 2006 Жанры Джаз, джаз фьюжн Длительность 73:09 Лейбл …   Википедия

  • spiral — spiral, ale (spi ral, ra l ) adj. 1°   Qui a la figure d une spire ou d une spirale. Ligne spirale. Ressorts spiraux. 2°   S. m. Terme d horlogerie. Le spiral d une montre, le petit ressort sous l action duquel oscille le balancier qui règle l… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • spiral — SPIRAL, [spir]ale. adj. Terme de Geometrie, Qui se dit d une ligne qui va tousjours en tournant, & en s esloignant de son premier point. Ligne spirale. ressort spiral. monstre à ressort spiral …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • spiral — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ winding in a continuous curve around a central point or axis. ► NOUN 1) a spiral curve, shape, or pattern. 2) a progressive rise or fall of prices, wages, etc., each responding to an upward or downward stimulus provided by a… …   English terms dictionary

  • Spiral — bezeichnet eine Spirale, eine Manga Serie und eine darauf basierende Anime Serie, siehe Spiral – Suiri no Kizuna, ein Projekt der Sowjetunion, 1965 bis 1976, zur Entwicklung eines wiederverwendbaren Raumfahrzeuges, siehe MiG 105 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • spiral — [adj] curling, winding circling, circular, circumvoluted, cochlear, coiled, corkscrew, curled, helical, helicoid, radial, rolled, screwshaped, scrolled, tendrillar, tortile, voluted, whorled, wound; concept 486 Ant. straight, uncurling, unwinding …   New thesaurus

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