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spirale

spiral

noun spee-RAH-leh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Sizes & Shapes

Origin: From Latin spira, from Greek speira (coil).

Also means

coil

Usage Note

Spirale is feminine: la spirale, le spirali. It is used both literally (a spiral staircase, a coil spring) and figuratively to describe escalating cycles: una spirale di violenza (a spiral of violence). In medicine, la spirale is also a common term for an IUD.

Examples

"La scala a spirale sale fino al tetto."

Natural Translation

The spiral staircase goes up to the roof.

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