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Whirlpool vs Spiral - What's the difference?

whirlpool | spiral |

As nouns the difference between whirlpool and spiral

is that whirlpool is a swirling body of water while spiral is a curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.

As an adjective spiral is

helical, like a spiral.

As a verb spiral is

to move along the path of a spiral or helix.

whirlpool

English

(wikipedia whirlpool)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A swirling body of water.
    • A whirlpool is an instance of a vortex produced by ocean tides, or by a hole underneath where the water would drain out, such as in a bathtub.
  • Turmoil, or agitated excitement.

    • Derived terms

    * whirlpool galaxy

    spiral

    English

    (wikipedia spiral)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (geometry) A curve that is the locus of a point that rotates about a fixed point while continuously increasing its distance from that point.
  • (informal) A helix.
  • A self-sustaining process with a lot of momentum involved, so it is difficult to accelerate or stop it at once.

    • Derived terms

    * death spiral * downward spiral * graveyard spiral * spiral staircase * upward spiral

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Helical, like a spiral

    • Verb

  • To move along the path of a spiral or helix.
    • The falling leaves spiralled down from the tree.
  • (figuratively) To increase continually.
    • Her debts were spiralling out of control.

    External links

    * (commonslite)

    Anagrams

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