spiral
adj : in the shape of a coil [syn: coiling, helical, spiraling,
volute, voluted, whorled, turbinate]
n 1: a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center
but at ever-greater distances from it
2: a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and
cuts the element at a constant angle [syn: helix]
3: ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around
a center with an increasing distance from the center [syn:
volute]
4: a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous
series of loops; "a coil of rope" [syn: coil, volute,
whorl, helix]
5: flying downward in a helical path with a large radius
v 1: to wind or move in a spiral course; "the muscles and nerves
of his fine drawn body were coiling for action"; "black
smoke coiling up into the sky"; "the young people
gyrated on the dance floor" [syn: gyrate, coil]
2: form a spiral; "The path spirals up the mountain"
3: move in a spiral or zigzag course [syn: corkscrew]
[also: spiralling, spiralled]