---
title: spiralling — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «spiralling» in the school dictionary: Spiralling means moving in a spiral, going round and round in a curve that gets wider or narrower, often while going up or down. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# spiralling

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Spiralling, curve, Spiralling prices, leaf, eagle, Water · **What happens:** mean, move, go, get, go up, rise · **To what, where:** spiral, curve, control, something, tree, hills · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«spiralling» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 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: [spiralling in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/spiralling.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spiralling means moving in a spiral, going round and round in a curve that gets wider or narrower, often while going up or down.

<!-- fold The tree, 24 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiralling:m1:1
# text = Spiralling means moving in a spiral, going round and round in a curve that gets wider or narrower, often while going up or down.
1	Spiralling	spiralling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	moving	move	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	spiral	spiral	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
9	round	round	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	round	round	ADV	RB	_	9	conj	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	curve	curve	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
15	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	16	nsubj	_	_
16	gets	get	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	acl:relcl	_	_
17	wider	wide	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	16	xcomp	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	narrower	narrow	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
21	often	often	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
22	while	while	SCONJ	IN	_	23	mark	_	_
23	going	go	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	conj	_	_
24	up	up	ADV	RB	_	23	advmod	_	_
25	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	26	cc	_	_
26	down	down	ADV	RB	_	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Spiralling |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **move** *not said to happen* | gerund | Spiralling *not said here* |  |  | a spiral |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V PP.trajectory»: agent=Theme in spiral=Trajectory |
| 3 | **go** | gerund | Spiralling *not said here* |  |  | a curve |  | round *property* | vn occur-48.3-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme in curve=Location |
| 4 | **get** | present | a curve |  |  |  |  | wide *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |
| 5 | **go up** | gerund | Spiralling *not said here* |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

<!-- .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 -->
Spiralling prices or problems are rising quickly and getting out of control.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiralling:m2:1
# text = Spiralling prices or problems are rising quickly and getting out of control.
1	Spiralling	spiralling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	prices	price	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	problems	problem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	rising	rise	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
7	quickly	quickly	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	conj	_	_
10	out	out	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	of	of	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise** | present · progressive | Spiralling prices or problems |  |  |  |  | quickly *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **get out** | gerund | Spiralling prices or problems *not said here* | control |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spiralling down (or into something) means getting worse and worse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiralling:m3:1
# text = Spiralling down (or into something) means getting worse and worse.
1	Spiralling	spirall	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	csubj	_	_
2	down	down	ADV	RB	_	1	advmod	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	1	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	6	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	getting	get	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	ccomp	_	_
10	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	9	xcomp	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spirall down** | gerund |  |  |  | something |  | down *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | Spiralling |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **get** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The leaf came spiralling down from the tree.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiralling:x1:1
# text = The leaf came spiralling down from the tree.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	leaf	leaf	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	spiralling	spirall	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	down	down	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	tree	tree	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | the leaf |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spirall down** | gerund | the leaf *not said here* |  |  | the tree |  | down *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The eagle was spiralling high above the hills.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiralling:x2:1
# text = The eagle was spiralling high above the hills.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	eagle	eagle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	spiralling	spirall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	high	high	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	4	advmod	_	_
6	above	above	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	hills	hill	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spirall** | past · progressive | the eagle |  |  | the hills |  | high *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Water went spiralling down the drain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiralling:x3:1
# text = Water went spiralling down the drain.
1	Water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	spiralling	spirall	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	down	down	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	drain	drain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | Water |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **spirall** | gerund | Water *not said here* |  |  |  |  | down the drain | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spiralling food prices make life hard for families.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiralling:x4:1
# text = Spiralling food prices make life hard for families.
1	Spiralling	spirall	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
2	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	prices	price	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	make	make	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	life	life	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	hard	hard	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	families	family	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spirall** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present | Spiralling food prices | life |  |  |  | hard *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset life=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His worries were spiralling out of control.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiralling:x5:1
# text = His worries were spiralling out of control.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	worries	worry	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	spiralling	spirall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	out	out	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	control	control	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spirall** | past · progressive | His worries |  |  | control |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **worry** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom worry «cognition intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The plane was spiralling towards the ground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiralling:x6:1
# text = The plane was spiralling towards the ground.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	plane	plane	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	spiralling	spirall	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	towards	towards	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	ground	ground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **spirall** | past · progressive | the plane |  |  |  |  | towards the ground | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The staircase went spiralling up the lighthouse.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:spiralling:x7:1
# text = The staircase went spiralling up the lighthouse.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	staircase	staircase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	spiralling	spirall	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	xcomp	_	_
5	up	up	ADP	RP	_	4	compound:prt	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	lighthouse	lighthouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** | past | the staircase |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7 «NP V S-Quote»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **spirall up** | gerund | the staircase *not said here* | the lighthouse |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

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**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 -->

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