What does spiral mean?
Word: Spiral
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Spiral means a curve that winds round and round a centre point, getting wider or narrower, like a coiled spring or a snail's shell.
Synonyms: coil, twist
How do you spell spiral?
Syllables: spi - ral
Tricky part: The ending is al, not le or el. The i says its name, eye, but it is spelt with a plain i, not y.
Watch out for: spirel, spirle, spyral
Memory tip: Spiral ends in al, like metal. A metal spring is a spiral, so let the two words share their ending.
Spiral in a sentence
Example 1: The slide at the park curves down in a spiral.
Example 2: We climbed a spiral staircase to the top of the tower.
Example 3: My notebook has a wire spiral down one side.
Fun Fact
A snail's shell grows in a spiral. As the snail grows, new, wider turns are added to the open end of the shell.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
Rahul drew a spiral on the cover of his drawing book with a purpel crayon.
a) spiral and purpel
b) only purpel
c) drew and cover
d) only crayon
Show answer
b) only purpel. Purple ends in le, like apple.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
lrpais
a) a curved shape like a thin new moon
b) a flat, perfectly round shape
c) a line that coils like a spring
d) a shape with three straight sides
Show answer
c) a line that coils like a spring. Put lrpais in order and it becomes spiral, a shape that coils round.
Word Champ
Which of the words cannot be made using the letters in the given word?
spiral
a) lips
b) pearl
c) rail
d) pair
Show answer
b) pearl. Pearl needs an e, and spiral has none.
Spellacadabra
From which option does a letter need to be removed to make a meaningful word?
a) circle
b) square
c) spiral
d) trianngle
Show answer
d) trianngle. Triangle has a single n.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these treats shows a spiral when you cut a slice?
a) a sugar cube
b) a Swiss roll
c) a round biscuit
d) a square of fudge
Show answer
b) a Swiss roll
2. If you walk down a spiral staircase, you keep ______.
a) stopping at each door
b) jumping over gaps
c) turning as you go
d) walking in a straight line
Show answer
c) turning as you go
