Definition of: spiral

(spī′rəl) adjective
1. Winding about and constantly receding from a center.
2. Winding and advancing; helical.
3. Winding and rising in a spire, as some springs.
—noun
1. Geom. Any plane curve formed by a point that moves around a fixed center and continually increases its distance from it.
2. A curve winding like a screw thread.
3. Something wound as a spiral or having a spiral shape, as a spring or a whorled shell.
4. A sharp or disproportionate rise, as in prices.
5. Aeron. A flight of an airplane in a spiral path.
6. In football, the motion of a ball rotating on its long axis.
—v. ·raled or ·ralled, ·ral·ing or ·ral·ling v.t.
1. To cause to take a spiral form or course.
—v.i.
2. To take a spiral form or course.
3. To rise sharply or disproportionately, as prices, costs, etc. [<Med. L spiralis <L spira SPIRE²]
—spi′ral·ly adverb