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Added 5 October 2026

spiral

/ˈspaɪɹəl/ noun

In Latin: helica Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about spiral at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.
A helix.
A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.

adjective

Helical, like a spiral.

verb

To move along the path of a spiral or helix.
The falling leaves spiralled down from the tree.
To cause something to spiral.
You need to learn how to spiral a ball.
To increase continually.
Her debts were spiralling out of control.

Origin

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

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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