1
- winding in a continuous and gradually widening (or tightening) curve, either around a central point on a flat plane or about an axis so as to form a cone盘旋（上升）的; 螺旋（形）的：
a spiral pattern.
螺旋形图案。
1.1
- winding in a continuous curve of constant diameter about a central axis, as though along a cylinder; helical圆柱螺旋形的。
1.2
- (of a stairway) constantly turning in one direction as it rises, around a solid or open center（楼梯）螺旋上升的。
1.3
- Medicine (of a fracture) curving round a long bone lengthwise【医】扭折（骨折的一种）。
1.4
- short for SPIRAL-BOUND.SPIRAL-BOUND的简称：
a spiral notebook.
一个螺旋装订的笔记本。
1
- a spiral curve, shape, or pattern螺旋形：
he spotted a spiral of smoke.
他看见了一股缭绕上升的烟雾。
1.1
- a spiral spring螺旋形弹簧。
1.2
- Astronomy short for SPIRAL GALAXY.【天文】SPIRAL GALAXY的简称。
2
- （亦作vicious spiral）a progressive rise or fall of prices, wages, etc., each responding to an upward or downward stimulus provided by a previous one（物价、工资等的）恶性螺旋形上升（或下跌）：
an inflationary spiral.
螺旋形恶性通货膨胀。
2.1
- a process of deterioration through the continuous increase or decrease of a specified feature（因特定情况的持续加剧或减弱所引起的）恶化过程, 恶变：
this spiral of deprivation and environmental degradation.
这一贫困和环境退化的恶化过程。
(spiralled, spiralling; <美> spiraled, spiraling)
1
- no obj., with adverbial of direction move in a spiral course螺旋形运动：
a wisp of smoke spiralled up from the trees.
一缕轻烟从林中袅袅升起。
1.1
- with obj. and adverbial cause to have a spiral shape or follow a spiral course使成螺旋形, 使螺旋形运动：
spiral the bandage round the injured limb.
在受伤的肢体上一圈圈缠上绷带。
2
- no obj. show a continuous and dramatic increase持续急剧上升：
inflation continued to spiral
通货膨胀持续飙升
as adj. spiralling he needed to relax after the spiralling tensions of the day.在一整天不断升压的紧张之后他需要休息。
2.1
spiral down/downward
decrease or deteriorate continuously持续下降; 持续恶化：he expects the figures to spiral down further.
他估计那数字会进一步下降。
派生词
spirally
adverb词源
mid 16th cent. (as an adjective)： from medieval Latin spiralis, from Latin spira 'coil' （see SPIRE2）.