—spiral /ˈspaɪə.rəl/ aep /ˈspaɪr.əl/
adjective [before noun]
► F0 shaped in a series of curves, each one above or wider than the one before: » a spiral staircase» a spiral galaxyThesaurus+: ↑Properties of circles and curvesnoun [C]
F0 a shape made up of curves, each one above or wider than the one before:
» A corkscrew is spiral-shaped.Thesaurus+: ↑Bends, loops and curvesdownward spiralC2 a situation in which a price, etc. becomes lower, or a situation gets worse and is difficult to control because one bad event causes another:
» This year's downward spiral of house prices has depressed the market.» We must avoid the downward spiral in which unemployment leads to homelessness and then to crime.Thesaurus+: ↑Uncontrolled• • •
Extra Examples:» The country's economy is on a downward spiral.» The pasta was in small spiral shapes.» The staircase was a grand spiral of marble.verb [I usually + adv/prep] (-ll- or US USUALLY -l-) ↑Verb Endings for spiral
F0 to move in a spiral:
» With one wing damaged, the model airplane spiralled downwards.Thesaurus+: ↑Moving downwards , ↑Falling and droppingF0 If costs, prices, etc. spiral, they increase faster and faster:
» Spiralling costs have squeezed profits.Thesaurus+: ↑Value and price increasesspiral downwardsF0 (of prices, etc.) to get less, at a faster and faster rate
Thesaurus+: ↑Value and price decreases