---
title: spiral — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spiral» in the school dictionary: A spiral is a curve that winds round and round a centre point, getting further away or closer each time, like the shape of a snail shell. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spiral

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** spiral, curve, shape, downward spiral, things, shell · **What happens:** be, wind, round, get, spiral, mean · **To what, where:** curve, centre point, shape, spiral, prices, spiral staircase · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spiral» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [spiral in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spiral.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spiral is a curve that winds round and round a centre point, getting further away or closer each time, like the shape of a snail shell.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:m1:1
# text = A spiral is a curve that winds round and round a centre point, getting further away or closer each time, like the shape of a snail shell.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spiral	spiral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	curve	curve	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	winds	wind	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	round	round	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	round	round	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	centre	centre	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	compound	_	_
13	point	point	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
15	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	appos	_	_
16	further	further	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	away	away	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	closer	close	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	15	conj	_	_
20	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	21	det	_	_
21	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
23	like	like	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
26	of	of	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
28	snail	snail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	29	compound	_	_
29	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spiral | a curve and the shape of a snail shell |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wind** | present | a curve and the shape of a snail shell |  |  |  |  | round *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **round** | infinitive | a curve and the shape of a snail shell *not said here* | a centre point |  |  |  |  | vn bend-45.2 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent point=Patient |
| 4 | **get** | gerund |  |  |  |  | time | away *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A spiral is also a shape that winds upward like a spring or a corkscrew: «a spiral staircase».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:m2:1
# text = A spiral is also a shape that winds upward like a spring or a corkscrew: «a spiral staircase».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	spiral	spiral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	also	also	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	winds	wind	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	upward	upward	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	spring	spring	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	corkscrew	corkscrew	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	20	punct	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
19	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a spiral | a shape |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **wind** | present | a shape |  |  |  | spring | upward *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To spiral means to move in a spiral, or to get quickly worse or bigger: «prices spiralled».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:m3:1
# text = To spiral means to move in a spiral, or to get quickly worse or bigger: «prices spiralled».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	spiral	spiral	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	move	move	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	spiral	spiral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
13	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	12	xcomp	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	bigger	big	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
18	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	19	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	prices	price	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	parataxis	_	_
20	spiralled	spirall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	19	acl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spiral** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **move** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  | a spiral |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in spiral=Trajectory |
| 4 | **get** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **spirall** *in a quote* | participle |  | prices *not said here* |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: figurative — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«A downward spiral» is when things keep getting worse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:m4:1
# text = «A downward spiral» is when things keep getting worse.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	downward	downward	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	spiral	spiral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	9	mark	_	_
8	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nsubj	_	_
9	keep	keep	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
10	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	9	xcomp	_	_
11	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** | present | a downward spiral |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **keep** | present | things |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **get** | gerund | things *not said here* |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A snail's shell is a spiral.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:x1:1
# text = A snail's shell is a spiral.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	snail	snail	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	shell	shell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	spiral	spiral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a snail's shell | a spiral |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We climbed the spiral staircase to the top of the tower.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:x2:1
# text = We climbed the spiral staircase to the top of the tower.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	climbed	climb	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	tower	tower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **climb** | past | We | the spiral staircase |  |  |  | to the top of the tower *result* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.patient V NP.extent PP.source PP.goal»: agent=Patient staircase=Extent to top=Result |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:x3:1
# text = The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	Milky	milky	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Way	Way	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	galaxy	galaxy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the Milky Way | a spiral galaxy |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The leaf spiralled down to the ground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:x4:1
# text = The leaf spiralled down to the ground.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	spiralled	spirall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	to	to	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spirall down** | participle |  | the leaf *not said here* |  |  |  | to the ground | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Sunflower seeds grow in spirals.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:x5:1
# text = Sunflower seeds grow in spirals.
1	Sunflower	sunflower	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	seeds	seed	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grow	grow	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	spirals	spiral	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Sunflower seeds |  |  | spirals |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in spiral=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write it in your spiral notebook.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:x6:1
# text = Write it in your spiral notebook.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
5	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	notebook	notebook	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | it |  | your spiral notebook |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent it=Theme in notebook=Destination |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Prices spiralled when there was not enough food.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:x7:1
# text = Prices spiralled when there was not enough food.
1	Prices	price	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	_
2	spiralled	spirall	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	mark	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	5	advmod	_	_
4	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	5	expl	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
7	enough	enough	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spirall** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is a** | past | Prices | enough food |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The staircase was of cast iron, spiral, broad and easy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiral:x8:1
# text = The staircase was of cast iron, spiral, broad and easy.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	cast	cast	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	spiral	spiral	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	broad	broad	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the staircase |  |  |  |  | of cast iron | tree rules |
| 2 | **be** |  | the staircase *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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