spiral
/ˈspaɪɹəl/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.85 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.
noun
A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.
noun
A section of track that forms a circle and crosses over itself, used for gaining height in mountainous territory.
adj
Helical, like a spiral.
Example Sentences
- "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."
- "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."
- "The falling leaves spiralled down from the tree."
- "You need to learn how to spiral a ball."
- "Her debts were spiralling out of control."
- "Excessive contrarianism against the liberal establishment has also resulted in slopulism spiralling off into the most moronic of conspiracy theories."
Etymology
From Middle French spirale, from Medieval Latin spiralis, from Latin spīra, from Ancient Greek σπεῖρα (speîra, “wreath, coil, twist”).
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: spirale, spiralis, spīra, σπεῖρα
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈspaɪɹəl/
- British English: /ˈspaɪɹəl/