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Book Glossary

spiral

Dictionary definition · spiral

noun

  1. a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at increasing distances from the center
  2. a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle
  3. a continuously accelerating change in the economy
  4. ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center
  5. a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops"a coil of rope"
  6. flying downward in a helical path with a large radius

verb

  1. to wind or move in a spiral course"the muscles and nerves of his fine drawn body were coiling for action"
  2. form a spiral"The path spirals up the mountain"
  3. move in a spiral or zigzag course

adjective

  1. in the shape of a coil

Similar words

coilinghelicalspiralingspirallingturbinatevolutevolutedwhorledcoilgyrate

Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).