spiraling

• Décrit quelque chose qui se déplace le long d'une trajectoire continue, sinueuse ou descendante ; souvent utilisé au sens figuré pour décrire une situation qui se détériore rapidement ou devient incontrôlable.

Describes something that is moving in a continuous, twisting, or descending path; often used figuratively to describe a situation that is worsening rapidly or out of control.

1. Coil-shapedB1formal

   Having the shape of a spiral or coil; winding around a central point.

   En spirale

   • The spiraling staircase led to the top of the tower.
   • A spiraling galaxy can be seen through the telescope.
   • The spiraling pattern of the shell was mesmerizing.

   Synonymescoiledcorkscrewhelicalspiraltwistedwhorledwinding

• Verbe désignant un mouvement en spirale ou une progression continue et souvent accélérée, à la hausse comme à la baisse.

A verb used to indicate a continuous and often accelerating increase or decrease, or a twisting, circular motion.

1. Move in a spiral courseB2formal

   To wind or move in a continuous, widening, or tightening circular path.

   Tournoyer en spirale

   • The smoke spiraled upward from the chimney.
   • The eagle spiraled down toward its prey.
   • The leaves spiraled in the autumn wind.

   Synonymescoilcurlgyrateswirltwirltwistwhirlwind

2. Form a spiral shapeB2formal

   To take on or create a shape that winds around a central point.

   former une spirale

   • The staircase spiraled elegantly up the tower.
   • The DNA molecule spirals into a double helix.
   • The vines spiraled around the old fence.

   Synonymescoilcurltwinetwistwindwreathe

3. Move in a zigzag or winding pathB2informal

   To move in a twisting, winding, or zigzagging course.

   se déplacer en spirale

   • The road spiraled up the steep mountain.
   • The car spiraled down the narrow alley.
   • The path spiraled through the dense forest.

   Synonymescoilcorkscrewcurlgyrateloopmeandersnaketwirltwistwhirlwind