spiral
/ˈspaɪrəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈspaɪrəl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈspī-rəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈspaɪə.rəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈspaɪr.əl/ (ame, ipa)
spiral — 名詞
- spiralsingular
- spiralsplural
1. a line or object that curves in a continuous loop, moving gradually outward or i
螺旋形
繞著中心點逐漸遠離或靠近的曲線或形狀
a line or object that curves in a continuous loop, moving gradually outward or inward from a center as it circles.
Eleni drew a beautiful spiral on the cover of her maths notebook.
Eleni 在她數學筆記本的封面畫了一個漂亮的螺旋形。
a + spiral
The staircase inside the old lighthouse was a narrow spiral made of stone.
那座古老燈塔內的樓梯是狹窄的石造螺旋梯。
spiral as a physical object
A spiral of smoke rose slowly from Noor's campfire into the night sky.
Noor 營火冒出的煙霧在夜空中緩緩形成一個螺旋形。
The fern frond unrolled in a tight spiral as it grew toward the morning sun.
那株蕨類的嫩葉在朝陽下張開成一個緊密的螺旋形。
Beatrix traced the spiral pattern on the seashell with her finger.
Beatrix 用手指描繪著貝殼上的螺旋花紋。
- straight line
a line that does not curve at all
文法句型
a + spiral + of + noun
spiral + noun (attributive)
用法筆記
Often used as an attributive noun (e.g., spiral staircase, spiral pattern) to describe something that has this shape.
常見錯誤
2. a process in which prices, costs, or conditions keep getting worse, with each ba
惡性循環
情況越變越糟、難以控制的連續過程
a process in which prices, costs, or conditions keep getting worse, with each bad event making the next one harder to stop or control.
The country's economy entered a downward spiral after the banks collapsed.
銀行倒閉後，該國經濟陷入向下螺旋。
downward spiral
Mayumi warned that rising household debt would create a spiral that was very hard to break.
Mayumi 警告說，家庭債務不斷增加會造成難以打破的惡性循環。
create + a + spiral
Once the violence began, the region fell into a spiral of conflict and fear.
暴力一爆發，該地區便陷入了衝突與恐懼的螺旋。
The company was caught in a spiral of falling sales and rising costs.
該公司被困在銷售下滑與成本上升的螺旋之中。
Families in the village were trapped in a spiral of poverty and poor health.
這個村莊的家庭陷入了貧窮與健康欠佳的惡性循環。
- vicious circle
a closely related idea where one problem causes another, which then makes the first problem worse; less directional than 'spiral'
- downward trend
a more neutral and gradual decline, without the sense of accelerating speed
- upturn
a positive change, moving toward improvement rather than decline
文法句型
a + spiral + of + noun
into/out of + a + spiral
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'downward' or 'inflationary' to specify direction. 'Vicious spiral' emphasises that each turn makes the situation worse.
常見錯誤
3. a throw or kick of the ball, used in American football, that sends it rotating a
旋轉傳球
美式足球中讓球沿長軸旋轉的投擲或踢球
a throw or kick of the ball, used in American football, that sends it rotating along its longest line so it stays stable while flying.
Vikram threw a perfect spiral that sailed sixty metres down the field.
Vikram 擲出一記完美的旋轉傳球，飛越了六十碼遠。
throw + a + perfect spiral
The quarterback's spiral cut cleanly through the wind and rain.
四分衛的旋轉傳球俐落地穿過風雨。
Nila caught the spiral with one hand and ran toward the end zone.
Nila 單手接住旋轉傳球，然後朝達陣區跑去。
Joon practised throwing tight spirals every afternoon after school.
Joon 每天放學後都練習投擲緊密的旋轉傳球。
文法句型
throw/catch + a + spiral
用法筆記
This sense is specific to American football. In other contexts, a spiral throw or kick is simply a pass or punt that rotates on its axis for stability.
spiral — 動詞
- spiralpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spirals3rd person singular
- spiraling-ing form
- spiraledpast simple
1. to move or grow in a path that turns around a central point, gradually getting c
盤旋；迴旋
繞著中心點做圓形移動或生長
to move or grow in a path that turns around a central point, gradually getting closer or farther away with each turn — for example, how smoke rises from a fire or how a bird circles higher into the sky.
A flock of birds spiraled upward from the wheat field at dawn.
一群鳥在黎明時從麥田盤旋而上。
spiral + upward
The dead leaves spiraled slowly down from the oak tree onto the path.
枯葉從橡樹上緩慢地盤旋飄落到小徑上。
spiral + down/around
Élise watched the helicopter spiral down toward the landing pad.
Élise 看著直升機朝停機坪盤旋降落。
Smoke from Diego's cigarette spiraled into the cold morning air.
Diego 的香菸煙霧在寒冷的晨空中迴旋上升。
The paper airplane spiraled across the classroom before landing on the floor.
紙飛機在教室裡盤旋了一圈，然後落到地板上。
文法句型
spiral + [adverb/preposition]
spiral + up/down/around
用法筆記
Subject is usually something light or airborne — smoke, steam, leaves, birds, aircraft. The direction is indicated by an adverb: upward, downward, around, across.
常見錯誤
2. if costs, prices, or rates spiral, they rise faster and faster, so that each inc
急遽上漲
價格或成本越漲越快，難以控制
if costs, prices, or rates spiral, they rise faster and faster, so that each increase is larger than the one before it.
Food prices have spiraled since the drought destroyed most of the harvest.
乾旱摧毀了大部分收成後，糧食價格急遽上漲。
[costs/prices] + have spiraled
Rent in the city center has spiraled over the past three years.
過去三年來，市中心房租急遽上漲。
Eitan watched the cost of building materials spiral beyond his budget.
Eitan 眼看著建材成本急遽上漲，超出了他的預算。
Healthcare expenses continued to spiral, forcing many families to borrow money.
醫療費持續急遽上漲，許多家庭被迫借錢。
Energy prices spiraled after the government cut fuel supplies.
政府在削減燃料供應後，能源價格急遽上漲。
- plummet
describes a very fast fall, opposite of rising
文法句型
[costs/prices/rates] + spiral
spiral + upward/out of control
用法筆記
Subject is always a financial figure — cost, price, rate, expense, debt, rent. Can be used alone (prices spiraled) or with 'upward' for emphasis. To clarify direction, use 'spiral upward' (rise) or 'spiral downward' (fall).
常見錯誤
3. if prices or costs spiral, they fall faster and faster, with each drop making th
急遽下跌
價格或成本越跌越快
if prices or costs spiral, they fall faster and faster, with each drop making the next drop bigger.
Oil prices spiraled downward as global demand fell sharply.
隨著全球需求急遽下降，油價急遽下跌。
spiral + downward (falling)
The value of the local currency spiraled after the election crisis.
選舉危機過後，當地貨幣的價值急遽下跌。
Property prices spiraled when the new highway bypassed the town.
新高速公路繞過該鎮後，房地產價格急遽下跌。
Share prices spiraled lower as investors rushed to sell their stocks.
隨著投資人爭相拋售股票，股價急遽下跌。
- skyrocket
describes a very fast rise, opposite of falling
文法句型
[prices/costs] + spiral + downward/lower
用法筆記
Without 'downward' or 'lower', this sense risks confusion with sense 2 (rising). Most writers pair it with a downward direction word to avoid ambiguity.
4. when a difficult set of events spirals, each new problem makes the situation wor
急轉直下
情況迅速惡化、難以控制
when a difficult set of events spirals, each new problem makes the situation worse faster, and it becomes very hard to stop — for instance, a small disagreement that grows into a major conflict.
The argument between the two neighbours spiraled into a costly legal battle.
那兩名鄰居之間的爭執急轉直下，演變成一場花費高昂的法律訴訟。
spiral + into + [worse state]
Rafael's debt problems spiraled out of control after he lost his job.
Rafael 在失業後，債務問題急轉直下，超出了他的掌控。
The protest spiraled into violence when police arrived with shields.
警察持盾牌抵達後，抗議活動急轉直下，演變成暴力衝突。
Political tensions spiraled quickly after the disputed election results.
爭議性的選舉結果出爐後，政治局勢迅速急轉直下。
Without fresh water supplies, the crisis in the camp spiraled each day.
沒有淡水供應，營區的危機每天都更加惡化。
- deteriorate
a more formal word that can describe gradual worsening without the accelerating, self-reinforcing sense of 'spiral'
- escalate
focuses on increase in intensity rather than a repeating loop; can be used for positive or negative situations
- improve
to become better, the opposite of spiraling into a worse state
文法句型
[situation] + spirals
spiral + into + [worse state]
spiral + out of control
用法筆記
Subject is typically an abstract situation — conflict, crisis, violence, debt, tension. The outcome is almost always negative. 'Spiral into' introduces the result; 'spiral out of control' emphasises loss of control.
常見錯誤
5. used when someone's emotional or mental state steadily gets worse over time, oft
陷入憂鬱
人的情緒或心理狀態持續惡化
used when someone's emotional or mental state steadily gets worse over time, often ending in a crisis like serious depression or a breakdown.
After her mother died, Eleni began to spiral into a deep depression.
母親過世後，Eleni 開始陷入嚴重的憂鬱之中。
spiral + into + [mental state]
Diego's mental health spiraled when he stopped taking his medication.
Diego 停止服藥後，他的心理健康狀況持續惡化。
The intense pressure caused the young athlete to spiral into severe anxiety.
巨大的壓力導致那位年輕運動員陷入嚴重的焦慮之中。
When Eitan's marriage ended, he spiraled into a depression that lasted months.
Eitan 的婚姻結束後，他陷入了持續數月的憂鬱之中。
- break down
focuses on the moment of collapse rather than the gradual worsening process
- slide
a gentler, slower decline; less dramatic than 'spiral'
文法句型
[person] + spirals
spiral + into + [mental state]
用法筆記
Subject is a person, not a situation. Frequently used in informal speech and mental-health discussions. Often paired with 'into' followed by a negative emotional state (depression, anxiety, despair).
常見錯誤
spiral — 形容詞
- spiralpositive
- more spiralcomparative
- most spiralsuperlative
1. having a form marked by curves that wind around a centre or axis, each turn set
螺旋狀的
呈現繞著中心旋轉彎曲的形狀
having a form marked by curves that wind around a centre or axis, each turn set farther or closer — like a spring, a snail house, or the double helix of DNA.
Mayumi bought a spiral notebook for her chemistry class.
Mayumi 為她的化學課買了一本螺旋筆記本。
spiral notebook
The pasta had a spiral shape that held the sauce very well.
那種義大利麵的螺旋形狀能很好地吸附醬汁。
Brooke admired the spiral design carved into the wooden cabinet door.
Brooke 很欣賞木製櫥櫃門上雕刻的螺旋圖案。
The galaxy photographed by the telescope had a beautiful spiral structure.
望遠鏡拍到的那個星系有著美麗的螺旋結構。
- straight
not curved or bent at all
文法句型
spiral + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun (attributive position). Common patterns include 'spiral staircase', 'spiral notebook', 'spiral galaxy', and 'spiral pattern'.