spiral English · revision 15485

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1551|origins=grc σπεῖρα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈspaɪɹəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|spiral]] (1534, in Rabelais) and directly [[la-med|spīrālis|t=winding, coiling]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|spīra|t=coil, twist]] (see [[spire]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|σπεῖρα|tr=speîra|t=coil, twist, wreath]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) perhaps from [[ine-pro|*sper-|t=to turn, wind]], though Beekes is doubtful.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As an adjective, winding round a centre: 1551 in Barnhart and Merriam-Webster, the 1550s in Etymonline.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a continuous curve winding round a point, is from 1656, in a translation of Hobbes,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) and a helix from 1670.^(OED 1989) The spiral nebula is from 1846 and the spiral galaxy by 1870.^(Etymonline) Figuratively, a progressive movement upwards or downwards, as of prices, is from 1897.^(OED 1989) The verb is from 1726 (spiraled), intransitive by 1834, of aircraft by 1916, and figurative by 1922.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1551 – spiral (adjective).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1656 – a spiral curve.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1726 – to spiral (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1846 – spiral nebula.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1897 – a rising or falling spiral (figurative).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A curve that winds around a centre at an ever-increasing or decreasing distance; a [[helix]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A continuous rise or fall, as of prices: ''an inflationary spiral''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Winding in a continuous curve around a centre or axis.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To move in a spiral course.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To rise or fall steadily and quickly: ''costs spiralled''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[spirality]]

+ * [[spirally]]

+ * [[multispiral]]

+ * [[nonspiral]]

+ * [[subspiral]]

+ * [[unispiral]]

+ * [[unspiral]]

+ * [[spiral-bound]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aspirin]]

+ * [[spirea]]

+ * [[spire]]

+ * [[helix]]

+ * [[coil]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}