inspiral

See also: inspirál

English

Etymology

From in- +‎ spiral.

Adjective

inspiral (not comparable)

1. (astronomy) Describing the paths of a pair of astronomical bodies (e.g. binary stars or black holes) that are spiralling in towards each other, losing energy to gravitational waves.

Noun

inspiral (plural inspirals)

1. (astronomy) The path of such a body.

Verb

inspiral (third-person singular simple present inspirals, present participle (US) inspiraling or (UK) inspiralling, simple past and past participle (US) inspiraled or (UK) inspiralled)

1. (astronomy) To spiral inward.

Anagrams

• spiralin