| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024spi•ral /ˈspaɪrəl/USA pronunciation n., adj., v., -raled, -ral•ing or (esp. Brit.) -ralled, -ral•ling. n. [countable] - Mathematicsa curve made by a point that moves around a fixed point, while constantly moving away from or toward that point.
- a spiral object, formation, or form.
- Businessa continuous increase or decrease in wages, prices, etc.
adj. [before a noun] - of or of the nature of a spiral or coil:a spiral staircase.
- bound with a spiral binding:a spiral notebook.
v. [no object] - to take a spiral form or course:The plane exploded and spiraled down to earth.
- to rise or fall steadily:Wages have spiraled down once again.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024spi•ral (spī′rəl),USA pronunciation n., adj., v., -raled, -ral•ing or (esp. Brit.) -ralled, -ral•ling. n. - Mathematics[Geom.]a plane curve generated by a point moving around a fixed point while constantly receding from or approaching it.
- Mathematicsa helix.
- Mathematicsa single circle or ring of a spiral or helical curve or object.
- a spiral or helical object, formation, or form.
- Aeronauticsa maneuver in which an airplane descends in a helix of small pitch and large radius, with the angle of attack within that of the normal flight range.
- [Football.]a type of kick or pass in which the ball turns on its longer axis as it flies through the air.
- Business[Econ.]a continuous increase in costs, wages, prices, etc. (inflationary spiral,) or a decrease in costs, wages, prices, etc. (deflationary spiral.)
adj. - Mathematicsrunning continuously around a fixed point or center while constantly receding from or approaching it; coiling in a single plane:a spiral curve.
- Mathematicscoiling around a fixed line or axis in a constantly changing series of planes;
helical. - of or of the nature of a spire or coil.
- bound with a spiral binding;
spiral-bound:a spiral notebook.
v.i. - to take a spiral form or course.
- to advance or increase steadily;
rise:Costs have been spiraling all year. - Aeronauticsto fly an airplane through a spiral course.
v.t. - Aeronauticsto cause to take a spiral form or course.
- Greek speîra anything coiled, wreathed, or twisted; see spire2) + -ālis -al1
- Medieval Latin spīrālis, equivalent. to Latin spīr(a) coil (
- 1545–55
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: spiral /ˈspaɪərəl/ n - one of several plane curves formed by a point winding about a fixed point at an ever-increasing distance from it. Polar equation of Archimedes spiral:r = aθ; of logarithmic spiral: log r = aθ; of hyperbolic spiral:rθ = a, (where a is a constant)
- another name for helix
- something that pursues a winding, usually upward, course or that displays a twisting form or shape
- a flight manoeuvre in which an aircraft descends describing a helix of comparatively large radius with the angle of attack within the normal flight range
Compare spin - a continuous upward or downward movement in economic activity or prices, caused by interaction between prices, wages, demand, and production
adj - having the shape of a spiral
vb ( -rals, -ralling, -ralled) ( US -rals, -raling, -raled)- to assume or cause to assume a spiral course or shape
- (intransitive) to increase or decrease with steady acceleration: wages and prices continue to spiral
Etymology: 16th Century: via French from Medieval Latin spīrālis, from Latin spīra a coil; see spire²ˈspirally adv |