spiralling

Variant of spiral

adjective

  1. circling around a central point in a flat, two-dimensional curve that constantly increases (or decreases) in size
  2. circling around a central axis in a conical or cylindrical, three-dimensional curve

Origin: ML spiralis < L spira, a coil < Gr speira: see spire

noun

  1. a spiral curve occurring in a single plane
  2. a spiral curve occurring in a series of planes; helix
  3. something having a spiral form, as a wire for holding sheets in some notebooks
  4. a spiral path or flight: the descending spiral of a falling leaf
  5. a section or segment of a spiral
  6. a continuous, widening decrease or increase: an inflationary spiral ending in financial collapse
  7. Football a kick or pass in which the ball rotates on its longer axis as it moves through the air

intransitive verb spiraled or spiralled, spiraling or spiralling

to move in or form a spiral

transitive verb

to cause to move in or form a spiral

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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