spiral

Universal Words noun, adjective, verb noun 1 a shape or design, consisting of a continuous curved line that winds around a central point, with each curve further away from the centre: The birds circled in a slow spiral above the house. * A spiral of smoke rose from the chimney. 2 a continuous harmful increase or decrease in sth, that gradually gets faster and faster: the destructive spiral of violence in the inner cities * measures to control the inflationary spiral * the upward / downward spiral of sales * the vicious spiral of rising wages and prices adjective moving in a continuous curve that winds around a central point: a spiral staircase * A snail's shell is spiral in form. spirally adverb verb (-ll-, AmE usually -l-) [V] [usually +adv./prep.] 1 to move in continuous circles, going upwards or downwards: Smoke spiralled into the sky. * The plane spiralled down to the ground. 2 to increase rapidly: the spiralling cost of health care * Prices are spiralling out of control. PHRASALVERBS spiral down / downward to decrease rapidly