spiral

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   form a spiral

   The path spirals up the mountain

2. 2
   noun

   A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.

   My beloved friends and family who sustained and grounded me as I fell into the rabbit hole of this project or down the spiral of new parenthood.

3. 3
   adj

   Helical, like a spiral.

   The formation of tornados and water-spouts is very probably identical with that of dust-storms and "devils," viz., a sudden disturbance of the vertical equilibrium of the atmosphere, where by an upward rush of air is generated, which rapidly becomes spiral.

4. 4
   verb

   To move along the path of a spiral or helix.

   The falling leaves spiralled down from the tree.

5. 5
   verb

   To cause something to spiral.

   You need to learn how to spiral a ball.

6. 6
   verb

   To increase continually.

   Her debts were spiralling out of control.

7. 7
   adj

   in the shape of a coil

8. 8
   noun

   flying downward in a helical path with a large radius

Etymology

From Middle French spirale, from Medieval Latin spiralis, from Latin spīra, from Ancient Greek σπεῖρα (speîra, “wreath, coil, twist”).