Monday, October 25, 2010

Define or Describe Spiral, Please?

All---

Okay, I'll get to an explanation later.  I have my own understanding of what a spiral is, but it would be immensely helpful if all you brilliantly unique thinkers in the Blogosphere could let me know your definition or description of a spiral.

This will probably be way more helpful than you expect!

Thanks!

.Nevets.

13 comments:

  1. Spiral? Something that curves around a center point? I'm a writer, Nevets, I can barely remember what the addition sign looks like! But, I can't wait until I learn why you need to know this info.

    CD

    ReplyDelete
  2. A spiral is a circle that curves into another plane.

    Oh, wait. You can have 2-D spirals too. Forgot that.

    Winding in a circular pattern, in 2 or more dimensions. How about that?

    Or maybe a "death spiral." Circling ever closer to death until final croaking sets in.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 3D - An inclined plane that winds ever-tighter/looser around a central axis.

    2D - a segment of line that is closer to a point at one end than another and travels a non-intersecting circular path

    ReplyDelete
  4. Spiral:
    Dramatically shooting toward success or failure. Ultimately, your choices determine which way you will go. Heaven vs hell. Good vs evil

    ReplyDelete
  5. Some very smart people are commenting here, Nevets. I do not include myself, because when I think of the word "spiral", a Slinky comes to mind. (As in, it walks down stairs, alone or in pairs...)

    ReplyDelete
  6. @Clarissa - haha Thanks! And I'll post soon about the spiral. It won't blow your mind, but hopefully it will be interesting at least.

    @Tara - Hmm, three definitions. That's a lot to chew on -- thanks!

    @B - Your second one is close to what I had in mind, though your phrasing is more precise and that's helpful. Your first has a lot of implications that are both exciting and daunting.

    @Deb - Thanks! I like it! The connotations of a spiral.

    @Jennifer - Actually, I think by analogy a whole lot, so that's a good one for me, too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. A spiral. A line that swirls around a central point, to no end.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Noun:a plane curve generated by a point moving around a fixed point while constantly receding from or approaching it. so says the dictionary. I had to cheat and look it up :>

    ReplyDelete
  9. The non-scientific definition: A line or strand that goes round and round, vertically or horizontally, while staying in one piece.

    But I'm with Jennifer. Think Slinky.

    ReplyDelete
  10. @G'Eagle - That's a very vivid and evocative description; I like it!

    @Michael - You think it's cheating to look in the dictionary? Here I am, asking the the citizens internet to look it up for me. Now that's cheating.

    @Frances - Two things I like about yours: you allow for multiple orientations, and you have frantic motion with union. Very cool.

    And gotta love the Slinky. It's fun for a girl and a boy.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Okay - this is weird (no laughing!), but to me when I think "spiral", I see it as the way we think about a topic. Either we follow the path upwards to where our views are widened with each turn, or we follow it downward to where our views become constricted. Upward there is no end, no confinement. Downwards - it's gonna get a little tight after awhile. Think tornado - the most damage is done where the air circulates tightest.

    ReplyDelete
  12. To me, spiral is one of those words that loves prepositions and which is therefore on my dirty list ;)

    Spiral in: a line, plane, or investigation that approaches a single point.

    Spiral out: leaving from a point in a circuitous path

    ReplyDelete

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