spiro-, spir-, spiri-

A kind of tuning circles or curves as seen in sea shells.

1. Inflammation of the sweat glands: A spiradenitis is the swelling and painfulness of a cordlike structure which has its origin in the coil of a sweat gland.
2. Etymology: a small structure resembling a cord beginning in the coil of a sweat gland; from Greek speria-, "coil" + aden, "gland" + -itis, "inflammation".

1. A benign tumor of the sweat glands: A spiradenoma is a cutaneous ailment normally characterized as being a solitary, dermal nodule located on the vertical part of a person's body.
2. Etymology: from Greek speira, "coil" + adenoma, "benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue".

A reference to something that winds or circles around a middle point: "James had a spiral driveway that went up the hill to his house."

1. A circular curving direction which goes around a central area: "The eagle was seen flying in a wide spiral over the valley."
2. A football that is thrown or kicked and spins while moving in the air: "The player kicked the ball in a spiral between the goal posts for a score."

1. To move around a central point while getting closer or farther away from it: "Smoke was spiraling up from the chimney of the house."

"The airplane spiraled down from the sky and onto the ground where it was shattered into pieces."

2. To increase, to decrease, or to get worse in a continuous and a fast and uncontrolled process: "The unemployment rate has been spiraling higher while the stock market has been spiraling lower."

The displacement of flower parts through twisting.

A spiral and rayed sponge spicule.

1. The totality of whorls of a spinal shell.
2. The area farthest from the aperture and nearest the apex on a coiled gastropod shell.
3. A winding line like the threads of a screw
4. Any thing wreathed or contorted; a curl; a twist; a wreath.

One of certain minute coiled threads in the coating of some seeds.

When moistened these threads protrude in great numbers.

Thin, coiled, threadlike outgrowths of some seed coats.

Any one of numerous species of fossil brachipods of the genus Spirifer, or Delthyris, and allied genera, in which the long calcareous supports of the arms form a large spiral, or helix, on each side.

Having a spiral structure.

A family of usually motile, aerobic to facultatively anaerobic bacteria (order Pseudomonadales) containing Gram-negative, rod-shaped cells which are curved or spirally twisted.

Motile cells contain a single polar flagellum or a tuft of polar flagella.

These organisms are primarily water forms, although some are parasitic or pathogenic on humans and other higher animals. The type genus is Spirillum.

Destructive to spirochetes or spirilla.