Geometry. a plane curve generated by a point moving around a fixed point while constantly receding from or approaching it.
a single circle or ring of a spiral or helical curve or object.
a spiral or helical object, formation, or form.
Aeronautics. a maneuver in which an airplane descends in a helix of small pitch and large radius, with the angle of attack within that of the normal flight range.
Football. a type of kick or pass in which the ball turns on its longer axis as it flies through the air.
Economics. a continuous increase in costs, wages, prices, etc. (inflationary spiral) or a decrease in costs, wages, prices, etc. (deflationary spiral)
running continuously around a fixed point or center while constantly receding from or approaching it; coiling in a single plane:
a spiral curve.
coiling around a fixed line or axis in a constantly changing series of planes; helical.
of or of the nature of a spire or coil.
bound with a spiral binding; spiral-bound:
a spiral notebook.
verb (used without object), spiraled, spiraling or (especially British) spiralled, spiralling.
to take a spiral form or course.
to advance or increase steadily; rise:
Costs have been spiraling all year.
Aeronautics. to fly an airplane through a spiral course.
verb (used with object), spiraled, spiraling or (especially British) spiralled, spiralling.
to cause to take a spiral form or course.
(geometry) one of several plane curves formed by a point winding about a fixed point at an ever-increasing distance from it. Polar equation of Archimedes spiral:r = aθ; of logarithmic spiral: log r = aθ; of hyperbolic spiral:rθ = a, (where a is a constant)
another name for helix (sense 1)
something that pursues a winding, usually upward, course or that displays a twisting form or shape
a flight manoeuvre in which an aircraft descends describing a helix of comparatively large radius with the angle of attack within the normal flight range Compare spin (sense 16)
(economics) a continuous upward or downward movement in economic activity or prices, caused by interaction between prices, wages, demand, and production
having the shape of a spiral
verb -rals, -ralling, -ralled (US) -rals, -raling, -raled
to assume or cause to assume a spiral course or shape
(intransitive) to increase or decrease with steady acceleration: wages and prices continue to spiral
spiral spi·ral (spī’rəl)
Coiling or developing around an axis in a constantly changing series of planes; helical. n.
A structure in the shape of a coil. v. spi·raled or spi·ralled, spi·ral·ing or spi·ral·ling, spi·rals or spi·rals
To take the form or course of a spiral.
noun, Astronomy. 1. any of the elongated and curved spiral sections that are connected to the center of a spiral galaxy.
- Spiral bandage
spiral bandage n. A bandage encircling a limb, with successive turns overlapping the preceding ones.
noun, Machinery. 1. a bevel gear having curved teeth tending to converge on the axis of rotation.
noun 1. a binding, as for a notebook or booklet, in which the pages are fastened together by a spiral of wire or plastic that coils through a series of holes punched along one side of each page and the front and back covers. spiral binding noun 1. (bookbinding) a method of securing the pages […]