||Spi`ro*bac*te"ri*a (?), n. pl.; sing. Spirobacterium (&?;). [NL. See
||4th Spire, and Bacterium.] (Biol.) See the Note under Microbacteria.
{ ||Spi`ro*chæ"ta (?), ||Spi`ro*chæ"te (?), } n. [L. spira a coil + Gr.
&?;&?;&?; hair.] (Biol.) A genus of Spirobacteria similar to Spirillum,
but distinguished by its motility. One species, the Spirochæte
Obermeyeri, is supposed to be the cause of relapsing fever.
Spi"ro*graph (?), n. [L. spirare to breathe + -graph.] (Physiol.) An
instrument for recording the respiratory movements, as the sphygmograph
does those of the pulse.
Spi*rom"e*ter (?), n. [L. spirare to breathe + -meter.] An instrument
for measuring the vital capacity of the lungs, or the volume of air
which can be expelled from the chest after the deepest possible
inspiration. Cf. Pneumatometer.
Spi*rom"e*try (?), n. The act or process of measuring the chest
capacity by means of a spirometer.
Spi"ro*scope (?), n. [L. spirare to breathe + -scope.] (Physiol.) A wet
meter used to determine the breathing capacity of the lungs.
{ Spi*royl"ic (?), Spi*royl"ous (?), } a. [NL. Spir&?; meadowsweet (a
source of salicylal) + -yl + -ic, -ous.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
designating, a substance now called salicylal. [Obs.]
Spirt (?), v. & n. Same as Spurt.
Spir"tle (?), v. t. To spirt in a scattering manner.
||Spir"u*la (?), n. [NL., dim. of L. spira a coil.] (Zoöl.) A genus of
||cephalopods having a multilocular, internal, siphunculated shell in
||the form of a flat spiral, the coils of which are not in contact.
Spir"u*late (?), n. (Zoöl.) Having the color spots, or structural
parts, arranged spirally.
Spir"y (?), a. [From Spire a winding line.] Of a spiral form; wreathed;
curled; serpentine.
Hid in the spiry volumes of the snake.
Dryden.
Spir"y, a. [FR. Spire a steeple.] Of or pertaining to a spire; like a
spire, tall, slender, and tapering; abounding in spires; as, spiry
turrets. "Spiry towns." Thomson.