lira

[leer-uh; Italian lee-rah]

noun, plural li·re

[leer-ey; Italian lee-re] /ˈlɪər eɪ; Italian ˈli rɛ/, li·ras.

a coin and monetary unit of Italy until the euro was adopted, equal to 100 centesimi. Abbreviation: L., Lit.
a monetary unit of Malta, San Marino, and the Vatican City until the euro was adopted.
a silver, bronze, or chrome steel coin and monetary unit of Turkey, equal to 100 kurus; equal to 100 piasters before 1933; Turkish pound. Abbreviation: TL.

Origin of lira

1610–20; < Italian < Old Provençal lieura < Latin lībra pound

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for lira

Contemporary Examples of lira

Ismail Adin, another shop owner in Beyoglu, also said sales of alcohol were down, from about 5,000 Lira a day to 2,000 Lira.
With New Turkish Liquor Ban, Raki Goes Underground
Thomas Seibert
June 13, 2014
I get 400 Turkish lira ($198) a month and 300 of that goes on rent.
Syria’s Christians Flee Kidnappings, Rape, Executions
Jamie Dettmer
November 19, 2013

Historical Examples of lira

O'Mally handed him the exact amount, minus the lira for the button.
The Lure of the Mask
Harold MacGrath
I wanted a little to take with me, for my purse hasn't a lira in it; but, no!
Mary Louise Solves a Mystery
L. Frank Baum
It took him two days, and cost him several hundred lira for guides.
Many Fronts
Lewis R. Freeman
And to her amazement, Lira's brother held out the magic castanets.
The Little Spanish Dancer
Madeline Brandeis
Lira did not feel the spell of night that had settled upon the rest of the world.
The Little Spanish Dancer
Madeline Brandeis

British Dictionary definitions for lira

lira

noun plural lire (ˈlɪərɪ, Italian ˈliːre) or liras

the former standard monetary unit of Italy, San Marino, and the Vatican City, divided into 100 centesimi; replaced by the euro in 2002
Also called: pound the standard monetary unit of Turkey, divided into 100 kuruş
the former standard monetary unit of Malta, divided into 100 cents or 1000 mils; replaced by the euro in 2008

Word Origin for lira

Italian, from Latin lībra pound

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for lira

Italian monetary unit, 1610s, from Italian lira, literally "pound," from Latin libra (see Libra).