spiral
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source: spiral stair case | Tumblr
adjective
winding in a continuous and gradually widening (or tightening) curve, either around a central point on a flat plane or about an axis so as to form a cone:
らせん(状［形］)の, 渦巻き状［形］の
e.g. a spiral pattern.
winding in a continuous curve of constant diameter about a central axis, as though along a cylinder; helical.
(of a staircase) constantly turning in one direction as it rises, around a solid or open center.
Medicine (of a fracture) curving around a long bone lengthwise.
short for spiral-bound:
e.g. a spiral notebook.
noun
1. a spiral curve, shape, or pattern:
らせん(状［形］のもの); 渦巻き貝; 〘幾何〙 渦巻き線
e.g. he spotted a spiral of smoke.
a spiral spring.
ぜんまい, ぜんまいばね
Astronomy short for spiral galaxy.
2. a progressive rise or fall of prices, wages, etc., each responding to an upward or downward stimulus provided by a previous one:
(一般に)渦巻き状の進行［急降下, 急上昇］ (!通例物価･賃金などの好ましくない変動をさす)
e.g. an inflationary spiral.
a process of deterioration through the continuous increase or decrease of a specified feature:
e.g. a downward spiral of sex and drink.
3. American Football a pass or kick that moves smoothly through the air while spinning on its long axis.
verb (spirals, spiraling, spiraled American Football spirals, spiralling, spiralled)
1. no object, with adverbial of direction move in a spiral course:
〖～＋副詞〗 らせん状に動く［回る］(up(wards), down(wards))
e.g. a wisp of smoke spiraled up from the trees.
with object and adverbial cause to have a spiral shape or follow a spiral course:
…をらせん状に動かす.
e.g. spiral the bandage around the injured limb.
2. no object show a continuous and dramatic increase:
〈程度･量･価格などが〉急上昇［急降下］する(up(wards), down(wards))
e.g. inflation continued to spiral
e.g. (as adjective spiraling) : he needed to relax after the spiraling tensions of the day.
(spiral down/spiral downward) decrease or deteriorate continuously:
e.g. he expects the figures to spiral down further.
DERIVATIVES
spirally |ˈspīrəlē| adverb
ORIGIN
mid 16th century (as an adjective): from medieval Latin spiralis, from Latin spira ‘coil’ (see spire2).