'Spiral' definitions:

Definition of 'spiral'

(from WordNet)
adjective
In the shape of a coil [syn: coiling, helical, spiral, spiraling, volute, voluted, whorled, turbinate]
noun
A plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at increasing distances from the center
noun
A curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle [syn: helix, spiral]
noun
A continuously accelerating change in the economy
noun
Ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center [syn: spiral, volute]
noun
A structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops; "a coil of rope" [syn: coil, spiral, volute, whorl, helix]
noun
Flying downward in a helical path with a large radius
verb
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, spiral, coil]
verb
Form a spiral; "The path spirals up the mountain"
verb
Move in a spiral or zigzag course [syn: corkscrew, spiral]

Definition of 'Spiral'

From: GCIDE
  • Spiral \Spi"ral\, a. [Cf. F. spiral. See Spire a winding line.]
  • 1. Winding or circling round a center or pole and gradually receding from it; as, the spiral curve of a watch spring. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Winding round a cylinder or imaginary axis, and at the same time rising or advancing forward; winding like the thread of a screw; helical. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Geom.) Of or pertaining to a spiral; like a spiral. [1913 Webster]
  • Spiral gear, or Spiral wheel (Mach.), a gear resembling in general a spur gear, but having its teeth cut at an angle with its axis, or so that they form small portions of screws or spirals.
  • Spiral gearing, a kind of gearing sometimes used in light machinery, in which spiral gears, instead of bevel gears, are used to transmit motion between shafts that are not parallel.
  • Spiral operculum, an operculum whih has spiral lines of growth.
  • Spiral shell, any shell in which the whorls form a spiral or helix.
  • Spiral spring. See the Note under Spring, n., 4. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Spiral'

From: GCIDE
  • Spiral \Spi"ral\, n. [Cf. F. spirale. See Spiral, a.]
  • 1. (Geom.) A plane curve, not reentrant, described by a point, called the generatrix, moving along a straight line according to a mathematical law, while the line is revolving about a fixed point called the pole. Cf. Helix. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Anything which has a spiral form, as a spiral shell. [1913 Webster]
  • Equiangular spiral,a plane curve which cuts all its generatrices at the same angle. Same as {Logarithmic spiral}, under Logarithmic.
  • Spiral of Archimedes, a spiral the law of which is that the generatrix moves uniformly along the revolving line, which also moves uniformly. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'spiral'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Spiral'