1
a
: winding around a center or pole and gradually receding from or approaching it
the spiral curve of a watch spring
b
: helical
c
: spiral-bound
a spiral notebook
2
: of or relating to the advancement to higher levels through a series of cyclical movements
1
a
: the path of a point in a plane moving around a central point while continuously receding from or approaching it
b
: a three-dimensional curve (such as a helix) with one or more turns about an axis
2
: a single turn or coil in a spiral object
3
: something having a spiral form as:
a
b(1)
: a spiral flight
(2)
: a kick or pass in which a football rotates on its long axis while moving through the air
4
: a continuously spreading and accelerating increase or decrease
wage spirals
spiraled or spiralled; spiraling or spiralling
: to go and especially to rise or fall in a spiral course
costs spiraled upward
Examples of spiral in a Sentence
Adjective
a spiral staircase takes visitors up into the Statue of Liberty
Noun
The glider flew in a wide spiral over the field.
The quarterback threw a tight spiral to the receiver.
Verb
Smoke spiraled up from the chimney.
The airplane spiraled to the ground and crashed.
The unemployment rate has been spiraling upward.
The stock market is spiraling downward.
Let's deal with this crisis before it spirals out of control.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 28 Mar. 2025
The spiral galaxy being wrapped or lensed around the elliptical galaxy appears to be stretched and warped into a ring, with bright blue lines drawn through it where the spiral arms have been stretched into circles.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
In a post on X, AccuWeather said the mesmerizing blue spiral might have been caused by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 18 Mar. 2025
But what starts as a glamorous escape soon spirals into a web of deception, power struggles and life-altering consequences.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral
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Adjective
Drooping clusters of yellow-green flowers hang from the tree’s branches in spring, and winged sugar maple seeds spiral to the ground in fall.
—Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 28 Mar. 2025
The spiral galaxy being wrapped or lensed around the elliptical galaxy appears to be stretched and warped into a ring, with bright blue lines drawn through it where the spiral arms have been stretched into circles.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
Strange forms poured out of her—big looping flowers, organic spirals, cubes of contrasting primary colors.
—Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
In a post on X, AccuWeather said the mesmerizing blue spiral might have been caused by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
On the brother’s side, meanwhile, stairs form a sculptural focal point that winds from the breakfast nook to the sinuous second-floor balcony, spiraling from there to define the primary suite on the top level before reaching the roof.
—Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 18 Mar. 2025
But what starts as a glamorous escape soon spirals into a web of deception, power struggles and life-altering consequences.
—Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiral
Cite this Entry
“Spiral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiral. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spiral
2 of 3 noun1
a
: a curve in a plane that winds around a point while getting closer to or farther away from it
b
: a curve (as a helix) in space that winds around an axis
2
: a single turn or coil in a spiral object
3
: something having a spiral form
spiral
3 of 3 verb
spiraled or spiralled; spiraling or spiralling
: to move in a spiral path
Medical Definition
spiral
2 of 2 noun1
: the path of a point in a plane moving around a central point while continuously receding from or approaching it
2
: a three-dimensional curve (as a helix) with one or more turns about an axis
the double spiral of DNA
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