spiral
noun
verb
ˈspaɪərəl
noun
1
a
line
in
the
form
of
a
curve
that
winds
around
a
central
point,
moving
further
away
from
the
centre
all
the
time
螺线，螺旋线
2
a
process,
usually
a
harmful
one,
in
which
something
gradually
but
continuously
gets
worse
or
better
螺旋式过程〔持续改善或恶化，一般指有害的变化〕
in/into
a
spiral
Unemployment
rose
and
the
city
went
into
a
spiral
of
decline.
失业率上升，该市持续走下坡路。
downward/upward
spiral
The
company
is
in
a
downward
spiral.
这家公司在日渐走下坡路。
3
inflationary spiral
a
situation
in
which
wages
and
prices
rise
continuously
because
the
level
of
INFLATION
is
high
恶性通货膨胀
verb
4
to
move
in
a
continuous
curve
that
gets
nearer
to
or
further
from
its
central
point
as
it
goes
round
螺旋形上升 （下降）
always + adv/prep
[+
to/around
etc
]
The
damaged
plane
spiralled
to
the
ground.
受损的飞机盘旋坠地。
5
if
a
situation
spirals,
it
gets
worse,
more
violent
etc
in
a
way
that
cannot
be
controlled
〔形势〕急剧恶化
Crime
has
spiraled
out
of
control
.
犯罪活动激增，已经失控。
6
if
debt
or
the
cost
of
something
spirals,
it
increases
quickly
in
a
way
that
cannot
be
controlled
〔债务或费用〕急剧而失控地上升
BrE ; AmE
the
spiralling
cost
of
legal
services
律师费的急剧上涨