spirals
Corkscrew-shaped paths traced
Spirals are curves that wind around a central point, either moving outward like a snail shell or maintaining constant width like a coil.
The word works as noun, verb, and adjective: a spiral staircase, smoke spiraled upward, the spiral of a seashell.
Figuratively, to spiral is to move progressively in one direction, often downward: The situation spiraled out of control.
A death spiral describes irreversible decline.
Ballet turn on one foot
- twirlRotate rapidly, often playfully
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- waltzDance in three-quarter time
- gyrateMove in spirals
whirl · dervish · choreography · rotation · turns · arabesque · capoeira · swirl
Opening from rolled state
- tendrilCoiling plant appendage
- vineTrailing climbing plant
- fiddleheadUnfurling fern frond
- fernSpore-spreading vascular plant
climbing · coiling · creeper · snail · curling · growth · winding · unfurling
Based on exponents
- FibonacciPisan mathematician, numeral importer
- equiangularHaving all equal angles
- ArchimedeanOf a Syracusan polymath
- curveSmooth, angleless line
coil · helix · volute · cycloid · involute · radius · curvature · mathematical
Chambered marine mollusk
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- conchSpiral-shelled marine gastropod
- snailShelled, slow-moving mollusk
- molluskSoft-bodied invertebrate, often shelled
seashell · gastropod · whorl · chambered · fossil · marine · exoskeleton · mother-of-pearl
Rotating water formation
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- maelstromViolent whirlpool or upheaval
- eddyCircular counter-current
twister · hurricane · waterspout · funnel · gyre · whirlwind · turbulence · suction
Gravitationally bound stellar mass
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
- quasarLuminous active galactic core
- wormholeHypothetical spacetime tunnel
- space-timeFused dimensional framework
singularity · cosmology · astrophysics · interstellar · redshift · pulsar · inflationary · gravitational
Hereditary code molecule
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- nucleotidesDNA and RNA subunits
- geneticsScience of hereditary transmission
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
transcription · Watson-Crick · genomics · molecular · proteins · heredity · mutation · coiled
Of vision or light
- hypnoticInducing trance or slumber
- vertigoSensation of spinning
- dizzyingCausing spatial disorientation
- mesmerizingCompletely capturing one's attention
trompe-l'oeil · distortion · Escher · psychedelic · kaleidoscope · afterimage · warped · disorienting
Three-armed spiral symbol
- petroglyphsCarvings on natural stone
- labyrinthIntricate passage network
- neolithicFinal Stone Age period
- ceremonialRelating to formal rites
totems · engravings · dolmens · menhirs · ancestral · mythology · shamanism · ouroboros
pirouette
Ballet turn on one foot
gyrate · whirl · dervish · choreography · rotation · turns · arabesque · capoeira · swirl · revolve
unfurling
Opening from rolled state
- tendrilCoiling plant appendage
- vineTrailing climbing plant
- fiddleheadUnfurling fern frond
fern · climbing · coiling · creeper · snail · curling · growth · winding · unfurling · shoot
logarithmic
Based on exponents
- FibonacciPisan mathematician, numeral importer
- equiangularHaving all equal angles
- ArchimedeanOf a Syracusan polymath
curve · coil · helix · volute · cycloid · involute · radius · curvature · mathematical · concentric
nautilus
Chambered marine mollusk
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- conchSpiral-shelled marine gastropod
- snailShelled, slow-moving mollusk
mollusk · seashell · gastropod · whorl · chambered · fossil · marine · exoskeleton · mother-of-pearl · whelk
whirlpool
Rotating water formation
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- maelstromViolent whirlpool or upheaval
eddy · twister · hurricane · waterspout · funnel · gyre · whirlwind · turbulence · suction · spinning
galaxy
Gravitationally bound stellar mass
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
- quasarLuminous active galactic core
- wormholeHypothetical spacetime tunnel
space-time · singularity · cosmology · astrophysics · interstellar · redshift · pulsar · inflationary · gravitational · orbital
DNA
Hereditary code molecule
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- nucleotidesDNA and RNA subunits
- geneticsScience of hereditary transmission
replication · transcription · Watson-Crick · genomics · molecular · proteins · heredity · mutation · coiled · twisted
optical
Of vision or light
- hypnoticInducing trance or slumber
- vertigoSensation of spinning
- dizzyingCausing spatial disorientation
mesmerizing · trompe-l'oeil · distortion · Escher · psychedelic · kaleidoscope · afterimage · warped · disorienting · hallucination
triskelion
Three-armed spiral symbol
- petroglyphsCarvings on natural stone
- labyrinthIntricate passage network
- neolithicFinal Stone Age period
ceremonial · totems · engravings · dolmens · menhirs · ancestral · mythology · shamanism · ouroboros · prehistoric
- kids' artcrayons, stick figures, finger painting, scribbles, chalk
- pastaspaghetti, penne, rigatoni, fusilli, farfalle
- Celtic arttriskelion, triskele, knotwork, interlace, endless knot
- decorative motifsscrolls, flourishes, swirls, curls, vines
- geometric arttessellations, fractals, symmetry, geometric patterns, tessellation
- mathematical patternsgolden ratio, prime numbers, primes, sequences, fractals
spiralsbeelines
Most direct routes
plummets · plunges · skyrockets · nosedives · drops
spiralsstabilizes
Makes firm or steady
levels off · recovers · improves · steadies · plateaus
- downward spiralSelf-reinforcing deterioration
- spiral notebookCoiled-binding paper pad
- spiral staircaseAscending structure winding around pole
- death spiralSelf-worsening loop toward ruin
- spiral stairsSteps winding around axis
- spiral hamPre-cut holiday roast
spiral, spiraling, spiraled, spiralled, spiralling, spiralize, spiralized