spiral

From Middle French spirale, from Medieval Latin spiralis, from Latin spira, from Ancient Greek σπείρα (speíra, “wreath, coil, twist”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈspaɪɹəl/

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• Rhymes: -aɪɹəl

spiral (plural spirals)

1. (geometry) A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.
2. (informal) A helix.
3. A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.
4. (rail transport) A section of track that forms a circle and crosses over itself, used for gaining height in mountainous territory.

spiral (not comparable)

1. Helical, like a spiral.
   • 1877, H. F. Blandford, Indian Meteorologist's Vade-mecum (page 140)

     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.

spiral (third-person singular simple present spirals, present participle (US) spiraling or (UK) spiralling, simple past and past participle (US) spiraled or (UK) spiralled)

1. (intransitive) To move along the path of a spiral or helix.

   The falling leaves spiralled down from the tree.

2. (transitive) To cause something to spiral.

   You need to learn how to spiral a ball.

3. (figuratively, intransitive) To increase continually.

   Her debts were spiralling out of control.

• spirals on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons

• Aprils, Plairs, prials

spiral c (singular definite spiralen, plural indefinite spiraler)

1. spiral

• “spiral” in Den Danske Ordbog
• “spiral” in Ordbog over det danske Sprog

• IPA^(key): /spi.ʁal/

spiral (feminine spirale, masculine plural spiraux, feminine plural spirales)

1. spiral

spiral m (plural spiraux)

1. spiral

• “spiral”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

spiral

1. hip

This noun needs an inflection-table template.

• Koponen, Eino; Ruppel, Klaas; Aapala, Kirsti, editors (2002–2008) Álgu database: Etymological database of the Saami languages‎, Helsinki: Research Institute for the Languages of Finland

From Medieval Latin spiralis, from Latin spira.

spiral m (definite singular spiralen, indefinite plural spiraler, definite plural spiralene)

1. a spiral, coil
2. a coil (contraceptive device)

• spiralfjær
• spiraltrapp

• “spiral” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

From Medieval Latin spiralis, from Latin spira.

spiral m (definite singular spiralen, indefinite plural spiralar, definite plural spiralane)

1. a spiral, coil
2. a coil (contraceptive device)

• spiraltrapp

• “spiral” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

From French spiral.

spiral m or n (feminine singular spirală, masculine plural spirali, feminine and neuter plural spirale)

1. spiral

• spiral in DEX online - Dicționare ale limbii române (Dictionaries of the Romanian language)

spiral c

1. a spiral
2. an intrauterine device, a coil (contraceptive device)

• pilars, slipar