lira

[ leer-uh; Italian lee-rah ]

/ ˈlɪər ə; Italian ˈli rɑ /

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.

Nearby words

liquor up, liquorice, liquorice allsorts, liquorish, lir, lira, lira da braccio, lirella, lirellate, liriodendron, liriope

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
For I feel sure that you will undertake the business I ask, for love of me and a commission of a lira of piccoli for each ducat.
Arethusa|F. Marion Crawford
Lira nodded and took an unusually large bite out of the loaf.
The Little Spanish Dancer|Madeline Brandeis

I had imagined him to be but a chance acquaintance of the Lira family, having little or no personal interest in their doings.
A Roman Singer|F. Marion Crawford
Third, there were two obligato instruments, the pipe used in the duet of the two shepherds, and the "lira" played by Orpheus.
Some Forerunners of Italian Opera|William James Henderson
On account of the name of the doge this coin was known as the Lira Tron for centuries.
The History of Currency, 1252 to 1896|William Arthur Shaw

British Dictionary definitions for lira

lira

/ (ˈlɪərə, Italian ˈliːra) /

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