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spiral

/ˈspaɪɹəl/ noun C1
  1. A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.
  2. A helix. (informal)
  3. A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.
  4. A section of track that forms a circle and crosses over itself, used for gaining height in mountainous territory.

Plural spirals

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From the library

But these forces increase as we go higher, so that we have a spiral which in defiance of reason rests upon the apex and not on the base.
The Count of Monte Cristo, p. 162 · C1
She grabbed a heavy brass key and marched up the winding spiral staircase.
The Keeper's Daughter, p. 1 · B2

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Words, meanings, pronunciations and translations from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); how common each word is from wordfreq. Made into this dictionary by FluentPlex.