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Spiral vs Corkscrew - What's the difference?

spiral | corkscrew |

Corkscrew is a synonym of spiral.



In intransitive terms the difference between spiral and corkscrew

is that spiral is to move along the path of a spiral or helix while corkscrew is to wind or twist in the manner of a corkscrew; to move with much horizontal and vertical shifting.

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.

    Anagrams

    * ----

    corkscrew

    English

    Noun

  • An implement for opening bottles that are sealed by a cork. Sometimes specifically such an implement that includes a screw-shaped part, or worm.
  • I opened the wine with a corkscrew .
  • * {{quote-book, 1720, , chapter=The Bottle-Scrue, Poems on Several Occasions, page=113, pageurl=http://books.google.com/books?id=Uw8UAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA113
  • , passage=There stood presented to his sight, Or seem'd to stand, the God of wine,
  • * {{quote-journal, 1999, James Lighthill, Biofluiddynamics: A Survey, Contemporary Mathematics, volume=141, page=11, pageurl=http://books.google.com/books?id=nCvG2t02114C&pg=PA11
  • , passage=A corkscrew is designed so that when it is turned it creates effectively a helical undulation pushing it into the cork, whereas rotation in the opposite sense pulls it out.}}
  • * {{quote-book, 2006, Costas Katsigris & Chris Thomas, The Bar and Beverage Book, pageurl=http://books.google.com/books?id=gtKOyU9ci1MC&pg=PA152, page=152, edition=4th ed.
  • , passage=A two-prong or ah-so corkscrew with sheath.}}
  • The screw-shaped worm of a typical corkscrew.
  • * {{quote-book, 1898, , First Principles of a New System of Philosophy citation
  • , passage=A bubble rising rapidly in water describes a spiral closely resembling a corkscrew .}}
  • (boxing, martial arts) A type of sharp, twisting punch, often one thrown close and from the side.
  • * {{quote-book, 2002, Darin Strauss, The Real McCoy, page=42 citation
  • , passage=
  • (amusement rides) A type of inversion used in roller coasters.
  • * {{quote-news, 1987, September, Tim Cole, Killer Coasters, Popular Mechanics citation
  • , passage=A corkscrew has a 90° turn just prior to the loop and a 90° turn just afterward.}}

    Synonyms

    * (implement for opening bottles) bottle screw, cork puller

    Hypernyms

    * bottle opener

    Coordinate terms

    * (other types of bottle opener) church key, wine key

    Hyponyms

    * (types of corkscrew bottle opener) waiter's friend; wing corkscrew; butler's friend

    Derived terms

    * corkscrewlike * corkscrewy * corkscrew flower * corkscrew grass * corkscrew stroke

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Having the tightly winding shape of a corkscrew.
  • * 1841 , , chapter I
  • Then the old gentleman spun himself round with velocity in the opposite direction, continued to spin until his long cloak was all wound neatly about him, clapped his cap on his head, very much on one side (for it could not stand upright without going through the ceiling), gave an additional twist to his corkscrew mustaches, and replied with perfect coolness.
  • * 1885 ,
  • All the heat of a decade of fierce Indian summers is stored in the pitch-black, polished walls of the corkscrew staircase.

    Synonyms

    * (having a tightly winding shape) helical

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To wind or twist in the manner of a corkscrew; to move with much horizontal and vertical shifting.
  • * 1832 , , chapter 35
  • Into the tea–room Mr. Pickwick turned; and catching sight of him, Mr. Bantam corkscrewed his way through the crowd and welcomed him with ecstasy.
  • * 1916 , , chapter 10
  • The street corkscrewed endlessly. Sometimes it seemed to stop; then it found a hole in the opposing masonry and edged its way in.
  • * 1960 , , chapter 5:
  • Far off to starboard an Atlantic liner, all lights blazing, came towards us, corkscrewing with a motion which must have left the passengers unhappy.
  • To cause something to twist or move in a spiral path or shape.
  • * 1851 , , chapter 134:
  • Caught and twisted—corkscrewed in the mazes of the line, loose harpoons and lances, with all their bristling barbs and points, came flashing and dripping up to the chocks in the bows of Ahab’s boat.
  • * 2006 , Rocky Raab, Baggy Zero Four , page 155:
  • Rusty corkscrewed the plane back down again, but instead of mashing the throttles to the wall, he pulled them to idle.
  • * 2007 , Mike Monahan, Barracuda , page 107:
  • Soon he was corkscrewed into place, suspended from the ceiling in an impossible maze of unforgiving circuitry.
  • To extract information or consent from someone.
  • * 1852 , , Chapter 55:
  • I strongly suspect (from what Small has dropped, and from what we have corkscrewed out of him) that those letters I was to have brought to your ladyship were not destroyed when I supposed they were.
  • * 1922 , , in Hearings Before the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry [http://books.google.com/books?id=lFYQAAAAIAAJ], page 460:
  • Yes, I believe you did after it was corkscrewed out of you, but I got the impression at the outset that you were, just as willing to let it stand there.

    Synonyms

    * (move in a corkscrew path) spiral