spiral

Word family

Related topics: Shapes, patterns

spi·ral1 /ˈspaɪərəl $ ˈspaɪr-/ noun [countableC]

1. CFTURNa line in the form of a curve that winds around a central point, moving further away from the centre all the time 螺线，螺旋线

2 a process, usually a harmful one, in which something gradually but continuously gets worse or better 螺旋式过程〔持续恶化或改善〕

in/into a spiral

Unemployment rose and the city went into a spiral of decline.

失业率上升，城市持续走下坡路。

downward/upward spiral

The company is in a downward spiral.

这家公司越来越不景气。

3. inflationary spiral a situation in which wages and prices rise continuously because the level of inflation is high 恶性通货膨胀

Examples from the Corpus

inflationary spiral• He started blustering about the general election and an end to the inflationary spiral.• The inflationary spiral constituted a grave threat which, if not halted, could jeopardise the entire economy.

—spiral adjectiveadj

Examples from the Corpus

spiral• It has continued on that downward spiral since.• Self-pity tends to block taking action that will be truly effective in reversing the downward spirals of primary and family diseases.• Perhaps the most shocking news was that children got hit the hardest in this downward spiral.• It is difficult to cook the inside spirals because of the filling so this extra time is important.

downward/upward spiral• After an unfortunate and ill-timed brush with the law, it was almost impossible for Marinello to arrest his downward spiral.• My theory is we're going into this horrible downward spiral and Clinton is a poor imitation of Kennedy.• It has continued on that downward spiral since.• At that point, however, the still increasing emissions of carbon dioxide will begin the upward spiral once more.• This has been particularly true of the hi-tech sector, hence the downward spiral in share prices.• Obviously the past year I somehow got on the downward spiral at work.• Self-pity tends to block taking action that will be truly effective in reversing the downward spirals of primary and family diseases.• Perhaps the most shocking news was that children got hit the hardest in this downward spiral.

spiral2 verb (spiralled, spiralling British EnglishBrE, spiraled, spiraling American EnglishAmE) [intransitiveI]

1 [always + adverbadv/prepositionprep]TURN to move in a continuous curve that gets nearer to or further from its central point as it goes round 螺旋式上升[下降]

spiral to/around etc

The damaged plane spiralled to the ground.

受损的飞机盘旋坠地。

2 if a situation spirals, it gets worse, more violent etc in a way that cannot be controlled 〔形势〕急剧恶化

Crime has spiraled out of control.

犯罪活动激增，已经失控。

3. INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNTif debt or the cost of something spirals, it increases quickly in a way that cannot be controlled 〔债务或费用〕急剧而失控地上升 SYN escalate

—spiralling British EnglishBrE, spiraling American EnglishAmE adjectiveadj

the spiralling cost of legal services

律师费的急剧上涨

Examples from the Corpus

spiral• Since the project started five years ago, costs have spiralled.• At a more complex psychological level, motion that spirals clockwise connects us to the Sun.• We watched the leaves spiral down from the trees in the cold autumn wind.• However, Clinton has disregarded the debt ceiling law, allowing the nation to spiral further into debt.• With inflation spiralling out of control, the country was close to economic collapse.• Too much was happening that he couldn't explain, things were spiralling out of his control.• A black whirlwind, they fill the air with the click of leathery wings as they spiral through the trees.• Entranced, she watched herself watching them as they spiralled to earth around her.• Smoke spiralled upward from the chimney.

spiral to/around etc• Starting from the centre, pipe in an outward spiral to cover the pies.• Entranced, she watched herself watching them as they spiralled to earth around her.• The dark galaxy spiralled around her, each constellation pricked out in delicate shades of fragrance.• But he ignored them, leaping straight up the spiral to his father's room.• First there was a sharp rise in the price of foodstuffs, spiralling to hyperinflation.• What Smith doesn't make clear is how we might get from the present destructive spiral to the moneyless system he advocates.

From Longman Business Dictionary

spiralspi·ral1 /ˈspaɪərəlˈspaɪr-/ noun [countableC]

a process, usually a harmful one, in which something continuously rises, falls, gets worse etc, often starting off slowly but gradually speeding up until it is out of control

Sales are on a downward spiral.

The current oil price rise may cause an inflationary spiral and, in the end, a recession.

→ wage-price spiral