Definition
螺旋 is a noun that covers two distinct concepts in English: a mechanical screw (螺丝钉) and a spiral or helix shape (螺旋形). The mechanical sense refers to threaded fasteners, while the geometric sense appears in descriptions of coiled shapes, staircases, or DNA structures. The English gloss "screw" only covers the first meaning — for the spiral sense, you need to rely on context.
n.
screw (threaded fastener)spiralhelix (shape or structure)
Examples
- 螺旋,。Zhège luó xuán nǐng de tài jǐn le, wǒ dǎ bù kāi.This screw is twisted too tight, I can't open it.
- 螺旋,。Lóutī shì luó xuán xíng de, zǒu qǐlái yǒudiǎn tóuyūn.The staircase is spiral-shaped; walking on it makes me a bit dizzy.
- DNA螺旋。DNA fēnzǐ shì shuāng luó xuán jiégòu.The DNA molecule is a double helix structure.
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