lira
Americannoun
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a coin and monetary unit of Italy until the euro was adopted, equal to 100 centesimi. L., Lit.
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a monetary unit of Malta, San Marino, and the Vatican City until the euro was adopted.
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a silver, bronze, or chrome steel coin and monetary unit of Turkey, equal to 100 kurus; equal to 100 piasters before 1933; Turkish pound. TL.
noun
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the former standard monetary unit of Italy, San Marino, and the Vatican City, divided into 100 centesimi; replaced by the euro in 2002
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Also called: pound. the standard monetary unit of Turkey, divided into 100 kuruş
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the former standard monetary unit of Malta, divided into 100 cents or 1000 mils; replaced by the euro in 2008
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lira
1610–20; < Italian < Old Provençal lieura < Latin lībra pound
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Elsewhere, Turkey has drawn down about 60 metric tons from its reserves since the conflict began — about $8 billion worth of gold — to defend the lira, she said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026
A weaker dollar weighed, and the Indian rupee and Turkish lira also hit Pernod’s top line.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026
The volatility of the lira creates foreign-exchange risk.
From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025
The Turkish lira, meanwhile, has slumped to a new record low against the dollar this week, going for 31 lira for $1.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2024
I paid him when it was over and tipped him half a lira.
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
