Spiral vs. Swirl

Spiralnoun

(geometry) A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.

Spiralnoun

(informal) A helix.

Spiralnoun

A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.

Spiraladjective

Helical, like a spiral

Spiralverb

(intransitive) To move along the path of a spiral or helix.

Spiralverb

(transitive) To cause something to spiral.

Spiralverb

To increase continually.

Spiraladjective

Winding or circling round a center or pole and gradually receding from it; as, the spiral curve of a watch spring.

Spiraladjective

Winding round a cylinder or imaginary axis, and at the same time rising or advancing forward; winding like the thread of a screw; helical.

Spiraladjective

Of or pertaining to a spiral; like a spiral.

Spiralnoun

A plane curve, not reëntrant, described by a point, called the generatrix, moving along a straight line according to a mathematical law, while the line is revolving about a fixed point called the pole. Cf. Helix.

Spiralnoun

Anything which has a spiral form, as a spiral shell.

Spiralnoun

a plane curve traced by a point circling about the center but at ever-greater distances from it

Spiralnoun

a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder or cone and cuts the element at a constant angle

Spiralnoun

ornament consisting of a curve on a plane that winds around a center with an increasing distance from the center

Spiralnoun

a structure consisting of something wound in a continuous series of loops;

Spiralnoun

flying downward in a helical path with a large radius

Spiralverb

to wind or move in a spiral course;

Spiralverb

form a spiral;

Spiralverb

move in a spiral or zigzag course

Spiraladjective

in the shape of a coil

Spiral

In mathematics, a spiral is a curve which emanates from a point, moving farther away as it revolves around the point.

Swirlverb

(ambitransitive) To twist or whirl, as an eddy.

Swirlverb

To be arranged in a twist, spiral or whorl.

Swirlverb

(figuratively) to circulate

Swirlnoun

A whirling eddy.

Swirlnoun

A twist or coil of something.

Swirlnoun

(fishing) The upward rushing of a fish through the water to take the bait.

Swirlverb

To whirl, or cause to whirl, as in an eddy.

Swirlnoun

A whirling motion; an eddy, as of water; a whirl.

Swirlnoun

the shape of something rotating rapidly

Swirlverb

turn in a twisting or spinning motion;

Swirlverb

flow in a circular current, of liquids