spiral (n.)

  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

    [ Syn: helix ]

  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

    [ Syn: volute ]

  5. a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; a coil of rope

    [ Syn: coil , volute , whorl , helix ]

  6. flying downward in a helical path with a large radius

    spiral (adj.)

  1. in the shape of a coil

    [ Syn: coiling , helical , spiraling , volute , voluted , whorled , turbinate ]

    spiral (v.)

  1. to wind or move in a spiral course; the muscles and nerves of his fine drawn body were coiling for action; black smoke coiling up into the sky; the young people gyrated on the dance floor

    [ Syn: gyrate , coil ]

  2. form a spiral; The path spirals up the mountain'

  3. move in a spiral or zigzag course

    [ Syn: corkscrew ]

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2011 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.