spiral

[ˈspaɪrəl]

spiral Definition

  • 1a curve that starts from a central point and gets progressively farther away as it revolves around the point
  • 2a continuous increase or decrease in something, usually price or quality

Using spiral: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "spiral" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The staircase was built in a spiral shape.

  • Example

    The airplane went into a death spiral.

  • Example

    The company's profits have been on a downward spiral for the past year.

  • Example

    The price of oil has been on an upward spiral.

spiral Synonyms and Antonyms

Antonyms for spiral

Idioms Using spiral

  • a situation where something continuously gets worse over time

    Example

    The company's financial situation has been in a downward spiral for the past few months.

  • to rapidly become worse or more chaotic

    Example

    The protest spiraled out of control and turned into a violent riot.

  • spiral up

    to increase rapidly

    Example

    The price of Bitcoin has been spiraling up in recent months.

Phrases with spiral

  • a type of galaxy characterized by a flat, rotating disk with a central bulge surrounded by spiral arms

    Example

    The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy.

  • a situation where a company or organization is in a continuous decline, leading to eventual failure

    Example

    The company went into a death spiral after several key executives resigned.

  • a notebook with pages that are bound together by a spiral wire or plastic coil

    Example

    I prefer using a spiral notebook for taking notes.

Origins of spiral

from Medieval Latin 'spiralis', meaning 'winding'

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Summary: spiral in Brief

The term 'spiral' [ˈspaɪrəl] refers to a curve that starts from a central point and gets progressively farther away as it revolves around the point. It can also denote a continuous increase or decrease in something, such as price or quality. Examples include 'The staircase was built in a spiral shape' and 'The company's profits have been on a downward spiral for the past year.' Phrases like 'spiral galaxy' and idioms like 'downward spiral' extend the concept, while 'spiral notebook' denotes a specific object.

How do native speakers use this expression?