downspin

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)Any type of movement that goes downwards in a spiraling motion.

   “(She climbs in the cockpit. The plane engine starts to make a definite downspin noise, as in the beginning of the play. On instinct, AE tries one last time to reach the ship. She picks up the radio:)”

   “The roundhouse. This serve is spectacular but is being used less and less in competition. It is difficult to use with any accurate and reliable consistency, and its downspin makes its flight predictable.”

   “Whenever the economy is in a downspin, questions invariably arise about the negative impact of undocumented immigrants on the economy.”

2. (countable, figuratively, uncountable)a downward spiral.

   “With not enough money to fix her car, and no job prospects, Lilli takes a downspin less flashy than Jamie’s, but just as painful.”

   “What had Edith said to bring about his change of mood? Maggie wondered in resignation, recognising the downspin of the emotional yo-yo once again.”

verb

1. To go downwards in a spiraling motion.

   “Down, forever down, with fatherlands! But if we are fallen, and our fall unique, and downspun with demolition”

   “The darkly comic, tragic story of London playwright Joe Orton (played by Gary Oldman of SID AND NANCY) and his husband Kenneth Halliwell (Alfred Molina) encompasses their hilarious, prickly beginnings as co-authors and jail-mates, downspinning into murder and suicide. Vanessa Redgrave appears as their theatrical agent Margaret Ramsay.”

   “He rode a parachute downspinning into a different world.”