# spiral

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈspaɪɹəl/ · frequency rank #8,986

## Definitions
1. A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.
2. A helix.
3. A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.
4. A section of track that forms a circle and crosses over itself, used for gaining height in mountainous territory.

## Etymology
From Middle French spirale, from Medieval Latin spiralis, from Latin spīra, from Ancient Greek σπεῖρα (speîra, “wreath, coil, twist”).

## Easily confused with
- **spray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiral-vs-spray)
- **swirl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiral-vs-swirl)
- **spire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiral-vs-spire)
- **spiro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiral-vs-spiro)
- **spirit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiral-vs-spirit)
- **sprawl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiral-vs-sprawl)
- **Spires** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiral-vs-spires)
- **spill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spill-vs-spiral)
- **spina** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spina-vs-spiral)
- **spiel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spiel-vs-spiral)
- **spinal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/spinal-vs-spiral)
- **Shiraz** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shiraz-vs-spiral)

## Common misspellings (9)
`psiral`, `sipral`, `spiarl`, `spirall`, `spirla`, `spirral`, `sppiral`, `sprial`, `sspiral`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/spiral