spiral

UK: /ˈspaɪərəl/ US: /ˈspaɪrəl/ ,(spī′rəl)

Inflections of 'spiral' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

When both "l" and "ll" forms exist, spellings with a double "l" are correct, but rare, in US English, while those with a single "l" are not correct in UK English.

spirals

v 3rd person singular

spiralling

v pres p (Mainly UK)

spiraling

v pres p (US)

spiralled

v past (Mainly UK)

spiraled

v past (US)

spiralled

v past p (Mainly UK)

spiraled

v past p (US)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

spi•ral /ˈspaɪrəl/   n., adj., v., -raled, -ral•ing or (esp. Brit.) -ralled, -ral•ling. 
n. [countable]

1. Mathematics a curve made by a point that moves around a fixed point, while constantly moving away from or toward that point.
2. a spiral object, formation, or form.
3. Business a continuous increase or decrease in wages, prices, etc.

adj. [before a noun]

4. of or of the nature of a spiral or coil:
   a spiral staircase.
5. bound with a spiral binding:
   a spiral notebook.

v. [no object]

6. to take a spiral form or course:
   The plane exploded and spiraled down to earth.
7. to rise or fall steadily:
   Wages have spiraled down once again.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

spi•ral  (spī′rəl), n., adj., v., -raled, -ral•ing or (esp. Brit.) -ralled, -ral•ling. 
n. 

1. Mathematics [Geom.] a plane curve generated by a point moving around a fixed point while constantly receding from or approaching it.
2. Mathematics a helix.
3. Mathematics a single circle or ring of a spiral or helical curve or object.
4. a spiral or helical object, formation, or form.
5. Aeronautics a 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.
6. [Football.] a type of kick or pass in which the ball turns on its longer axis as it flies through the air.
7. Business [Econ.] a continuous increase in costs, wages, prices, etc. (inflationary spiral,) or a decrease in costs, wages, prices, etc. (deflationary spiral.)

adj. 

8. Mathematics running continuously around a fixed point or center while constantly receding from or approaching it; coiling in a single plane:
   a spiral curve.
9. Mathematics coiling around a fixed line or axis in a constantly changing series of planes;
   helical.
10. of or of the nature of a spire or coil.
11. bound with a spiral binding;
    spiral-bound:
    a spiral notebook.

v.i. 

12. to take a spiral form or course.
13. to advance or increase steadily;
    rise:
    Costs have been spiraling all year.
14. Aeronautics to fly an airplane through a spiral course.

v.t. 

15. Aeronautics to 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

spi•ral•i•ty  (spī ral′i tē), n.  spi′ral•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spiral / ˈspaɪərəl/ noun

1. 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)
2. another name for helix1
3. something that pursues a winding, usually upward, course or that displays a twisting form or shape
4. 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 spin16
5. a continuous upward or downward movement in economic activity or prices, caused by interaction between prices, wages, demand, and production

adjective

1. having the shape of a spiral

verb ( -rals, -ralling, -ralled) ( -rals, -raling, -raled)

1. to assume or cause to assume a spiral course or shape
2. (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 spire²

ˈspirally adverb