verb

spiralled

Translation

to move in a spiral, to escalate, to worsen rapidly

The bird spiralled up into the sky.

The bird spiraled up into the sky.

Costs have spiralled out of control.

Costs have spiraled out of control.

The economy spiralled into recession.

The economy spiraled into recession.

((sth.)) to spiral (direction) to move in a spiral (direction) The bird spiraled up.

((sth.)) to spiral out of control to become uncontrollable Costs have spiraled out of control.

((sth.)) to spiral into (sth.) to fall into (a bad situation) The economy spiraled into recession.

escalate, worsen, plunge (negative); ascend, climb (positive)

From the noun 'spiral', which comes from the Latin 'spira' meaning 'coil'.

Picture a spiral staircase. The verb can mean going up or down that staircase, either literally or figuratively (like prices or a situation).