spiraling
spiraling — 名詞
- spiralingsingular
- spiralingsplural
1. A curved shape that coils about a center, with each loop moving farther outward,
螺旋形
圍繞中心旋轉的曲線形狀
A curved shape that coils about a center, with each loop moving farther outward, farther inward, or higher — like the coil of a spring or the thread of a screw.
The staircase had a beautiful spiraling that rose three stories without any landings.
這座樓梯有著美麗的螺旋形，繞了三層樓都沒有設置平臺。
spiraling of a staircase
Hamza traced the gentle spiraling of the seashell with his finger, following the curves outward.
Hamza 用手指沿著貝殼柔和的螺旋形曲線向外描繪。
gentle spiraling + outward curves
The artist captured the tight spiraling of the fern frond in a charcoal drawing.
藝術家用炭筆畫捕捉了蕨葉緊密的螺旋形。
From the tower top, Min could see the spiraling of the road as it wound down the mountain.
Min 從塔頂可以看見公路盤繞下山的螺旋形。
文法句型
the spiraling of something
a spiraling of something
用法筆記
Countable when referring to a specific instance (e.g., 'a tight spiraling'); uncountable when describing the general shape or motion.
常見錯誤
2. A chain of events where prices keep dropping or conditions keep worsening, as ea
惡性循環
持續惡化且難以控制連鎖局面
A chain of events where prices keep dropping or conditions keep worsening, as each setback triggers a further one and the situation becomes harder to manage.
The country faced a spiraling of debt that threatened to collapse its entire banking system.
該國面臨債務的惡性循環，可能導致整個銀行體系崩潰。
spiraling of debt
Isabela watched the spiraling of violence in the region as each attack led to another round of revenge.
Isabela 目睹該地區暴力不斷升級的惡性循環，每一次攻擊都引發新一輪的報復。
spiraling of violence — each event triggers the next
Without a new contract, the factory workers saw a spiraling of layoffs throughout the winter.
沒有新合約的情況下，工廠工人目睹裁員規模不斷擴大，整個冬天都沒有緩解。
Romi tried to stop the downward spiraling of her savings after the medical bills arrived.
Romi 試圖阻止醫療帳單到來後存款直線下滑的惡性循環。
- downward spiral
the standard noun phrase for this meaning; 'spiraling' is the gerund form
- cycle of decline
more formal, less urgent tone
- vicious circle
emphasises cause-and-effect rather than direction
- recovery
the opposite of a sustained worsening
文法句型
a spiraling of something
downward/upward spiraling
用法筆記
Modifiers like 'downward' or 'upward' make the direction clear. 'Spiraling' alone most often describes a worsening (downward) trend. When talking about prices rising fast, use 'spiral' as a verb instead.
常見錯誤
3. A technique in American football where the ball is thrown or kicked so that it s
旋轉傳球
美式足球中沿長軸旋轉拋踢
A technique in American football where the ball is thrown or kicked so that it spins around its long midline while in flight, producing a straighter and more accurate trajectory.
The quarterback threw a perfect spiraling that cut through the wind and landed in the receiver's hands.
四分衛擲出了一記完美的旋轉傳球，穿過風勢，穩穩落在接球員手中。
throw a perfect spiraling
Tunde practiced the spiraling every afternoon until his throws sailed in a straight line every time.
Tunde 每天下午練習旋轉傳球，直到每一次投擲都能筆直飛出。
In the championship game, Jackson threw a spiraling that sailed forty yards straight into the end zone.
在冠軍賽中，Jackson 擲出一記旋轉傳球，筆直飛了四十碼直達達陣區。
Coach Rivera showed the rookie how to grip the laces tightly to throw a clean spiraling every time.
Rivera 教練向新秀示範如何緊緊抓住縫線，每次都能擲出乾淨的旋轉傳球。
- spiral
the standard noun; 'spiraling' is used when describing the action itself
- tight spiral
emphasises the ball's clean rotation
文法句型
throw/kick a spiraling
用法筆記
This is the least common of the noun senses and mostly appears in American football commentary or coaching. The simpler noun 'spiral' is more frequent even in sports contexts.
spiraling — 動詞
- spiralingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- spiralings3rd person singular
- spiralinging-ing form
- spiralingedpast simple
1. To move along a winding path that curves around a fixed point while simultaneous
螺旋移動
沿盤旋路徑移動
To move along a winding path that curves around a fixed point while simultaneously moving outward, inward, upward, or downward.
The paper airplane spiraled down from the window and landed on the grass below.
紙飛機螺旋著從窗戶飄落，降落在下面的草地上。
spiraled down — downward circular motion
Vivek watched the smoke spiraling upward from the campfire into the dark sky.
Vivek 看著營火產生的煙霧螺旋上升，消失在黑暗的夜空中。
spiraling upward
A hawk spiraled high above the valley, riding the warm air currents without flapping its wings.
一隻老鷹在山谷上空盤旋高升，乘著暖氣流毫不費勁地翱翔。
The autumn leaves spiraled gently down onto the surface of the pond.
秋葉輕輕旋繞著飄落在池塘水面上。
Dewi watched the helicopter spiraling slowly toward the landing pad on the hospital roof.
Dewi 看著直升機慢慢盤旋降落在醫院屋頂的停機坪上。
文法句型
spiral + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
This is the only sense that describes physical, visible motion. All other verb senses are metaphorical. It is almost always followed by a direction word (up, down, around, toward).
常見錯誤
2. When prices, costs, or debts increase at an ever-quickening rate, making the sit
飆升；暴漲
物價等快速持續上漲
When prices, costs, or debts increase at an ever-quickening rate, making the situation progressively harder to afford or manage.
Food prices have been spiraling since the drought destroyed most of the wheat harvest.
自乾旱毀掉大部分小麥收成以來，食品價格持續飆升。
prices have been spiraling — continuous increase
Rent in the city center is spiraling, forcing many young people to move to the suburbs.
市中心房租飆升，迫使許多年輕人搬到郊區居住。
Hospital costs spiraled after the new equipment was brought in, and patients struggled to pay their bills.
引進新設備後，醫療費用暴漲，病人難以負擔帳單。
Charlotte watched her credit card debt spiral as she used one loan to pay off another.
Charlotte 眼睜睜看著自己的信用卡債務像雪球般越滾越大，用一筆貸款去還另一筆。
Energy prices have spiraled upward for three months in a row, and families are cutting back on heating.
能源價格已連續三個月飆升，許多家庭不得不減少暖氣用量。
- plummet
opposite direction — a sudden sharp fall
文法句型
spiral + adverb (upward, out of control)
用法筆記
Subject is typically a type of cost (prices, rent, inflation, debt). The word 'spiral' alone implies upward increase — to describe a fast drop, pair it with 'downward' or use sense 3.
常見錯誤
3. When prices, spending, or economic activity drop at a rate that speeds up as it
急降；暴跌
物價等快速持續下跌
When prices, spending, or economic activity drop at a rate that speeds up as it continues, often leading to a broader slowdown.
Oil prices spiraled downward after the discovery of new reserves flooded the market.
新油藏的發現讓市場供過於求，油價急轉直下。
spiraled downward — accelerating drop
Property values in the area have been spiraling lower since the factory closed two years ago.
自從工廠兩年前關閉以來，該地區的房地產價格不斷下跌。
When consumer demand dried up, retail sales spiraled and several stores shut their doors.
消費者需求枯竭後，零售額暴跌，好幾家商店關門大吉。
Mert watched his investment fund spiral down as the stock market lost value week after week.
Mert 眼睜睜看著自己的投資基金隨著股市每週下跌而一路下滑。
Car prices spiraled downward to levels not seen since the recession of the early 2000s.
汽車價格已跌至二十一世紀初經濟衰退以來的最低水平。
- soar
opposite direction — rapid, sustained increase
文法句型
spiral + downward
spiral + lower
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2, this sense always requires 'downward' or 'lower' to signal the direction — 'spiral' on its own is assumed to mean upward. Compare: 'inflation spiraled' (rose fast) vs 'inflation spiraled downward' (fell fast).
常見錯誤
4. When a situation — such as a conflict, crisis, or social problem — becomes rapid
惡化；失控
局勢迅速惡化難以控制
When a situation — such as a conflict, crisis, or social problem — becomes rapidly more serious and harder to manage, as each setback or failure causes the next one.
The argument spiraled into a shouting match that left both roommates refusing to speak to each other.
爭論升級為激烈爭吵，兩名室友從此拒絕跟對方說話。
spiraled into a shouting match
Violence in the region spiraled out of control after the peace talks broke down completely.
和平談判徹底破裂後，該地區的暴力情勢完全失控。
spiraled out of control
Talia watched the project spiral into disaster as deadlines were missed one after another.
Talia 眼看著專案因截止日期接連錯過而一步一步淪為災難。
The political crisis spiraled when both sides refused to negotiate and protests grew larger each day.
政治危機急遽惡化，雙方拒絕談判，抗議規模一天比一天龐大。
Without a ceasefire, the conflict could easily spiral into a full-scale war that affects the entire region.
若無停火協議，這場衝突可能輕易演變成影響整個區域的全面戰爭。
- escalate
more formal; can be positive (escalate profits) or negative, while spiral is always negative
- deteriorate
describes a general decline; lacks the 'faster and faster' urgency of spiral
- snowball
very similar meaning; more informal, suggests a problem growing as it moves
文法句型
spiral + into something
spiral + out of control
用法筆記
This sense almost always includes a prepositional phrase — 'into [something worse]' or 'out of control' — that shows the result. The subject is typically an abstract noun: argument, crisis, conflict, violence, situation.
常見錯誤
5. When a person's mental or emotional state grows rapidly worse, often moving from
崩潰
心理狀況急速變差
When a person's mental or emotional state grows rapidly worse, often moving from sadness or stress into depression, anxiety, or a complete loss of wellbeing.
After losing his job, Hamza began spiraling into depression and stopped answering phone calls.
失業後，Hamza 情緒逐漸崩潰，陷入了憂鬱，不再接聽電話。
spiraling into depression
Chiara could feel herself spiraling as the exam pressure built up and she slept less each night.
Chiara 感覺到自己的精神狀態正在崩潰，考試壓力越來越大，每晚的睡眠也越來越少。
Ada's friends noticed she was spiraling and urged her to talk to a counselor before things got worse.
Ada 的朋友發現她的精神狀態正在崩潰，力勸她在情況惡化前尋求諮商。
Without medication and regular therapy, his anxiety spiraled until he could barely leave the house.
沒有藥物和定期治療，他的焦慮讓他逐漸崩潰，到最後幾乎無法出門。
The therapist taught Vivek ways to recognize when his mood was starting to spiral so he could ask for help.
心理治療師教 Vivek 如何辨識情緒開始崩潰的徵兆，以便及時求助。
- crash
happens suddenly rather than as a process of decline
- break down
suggests reaching a crisis point; more general
- decline
slower and less dramatic; does not imply accelerating speed
文法句型
spiral + into depression/anxiety
spiral + downward
用法筆記
Often used with 'into' followed by a mental health condition (depression, anxiety, panic). The subject is a person ('he spiraled') or a person's mental state ('her mood spiraled'). This sense carries a serious tone — avoid using it casually.
常見錯誤
spiraling — 形容詞
- spiralingpositive
- more spiralingcomparative
- most spiralingsuperlative
1. Describing a curved form that winds about a center, with each successive loop ex
螺旋形的
盤旋環繞中心點延伸的形狀
Describing a curved form that winds about a center, with each successive loop extending further outward or reaching higher.
The old lighthouse had a narrow spiraling staircase with two hundred and twenty iron steps.
這座古老的燈塔有一座狹窄的螺旋形樓梯，共有兩百二十級鐵製臺階。
spiraling staircase — most common collocation
Isabela bought a spiraling silver necklace that wrapped around her wrist three times.
Isabela 買了一條螺旋形的銀項鍊，可以在手腕上繞三圈。
spiraling necklace
The museum featured a spiraling ramp that let visitors walk through the exhibit without backtracking.
博物館設有一條螺旋形坡道，讓參觀者無需折返即可走完整個展覽。
The spiraling vines of the wisteria wrapped around the porch columns, creating a natural canopy of purple flowers.
紫藤的藤蔓沿著門廊柱子盤繞而上，形成了一座由紫色花朵構成的天然頂棚。
The spiraling pattern on the ceramic bowl was painted by hand in blue and white glaze.
陶瓷碗上的螺旋形圖案是由手工以藍白釉彩繪製而成。
文法句型
spiraling + noun
用法筆記
This adjective is used mainly for physical objects (staircases, ramps, patterns, wires). For abstract uses of 'spiraling' (costs, crises), use the verb form instead.