pyramid

[ pir-uh-mid ]

/ ˈpɪr ə mɪd /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: pyramid / pyramidded / pyramidding on Thesaurus.com

noun

Architecture.

(in ancient Egypt) a quadrilateral masonry mass having smooth, steeply sloping sides meeting at an apex, used as a tomb.
(in ancient Egypt and pre-Columbian Central America) a quadrilateral masonry mass, stepped and sharply sloping, used as a tomb or a platform for a temple.

anything of such form.

a number of persons or things arranged or heaped up in this manner: a pyramid of acrobats; a pyramid of boxes.

a system or structure resembling a pyramid, as in hierarchical form.

Geometry. a solid having a polygonal base, and triangular sides that meet in a point.

Crystallography. any form the planes of which intersect all three of the axes.

Anatomy, Zoology. any of various parts or structures of pyramidal form.

pyramid scheme.

a tree pruned or trained to grow in conical form.

pyramids, (used with a singular verb)British. a form of pocket billiards for two or four players in which 15 colored balls, initially placed in the form of a triangle, are pocketed with one white cue ball.

verb (used without object)

to take, or become disposed in, the form of a pyramid.

Stock Exchange. (in speculating on margin) to enlarge one's operations in a series of transactions, as on a continued rise or decline in price, by using profits in transactions not yet closed, and consequently not yet in hand, as margin for additional buying or selling in the next transaction.

to increase gradually, as with the completion of each phase: Our problems are beginning to pyramid.

verb (used with object)

to arrange in the form of a pyramid.

to raise or increase (costs, wages, etc.) by adding amounts gradually.

to cause to increase at a steady and progressive rate: New overseas markets have pyramided the company's profits.

Stock Exchange. (in speculating on margin) to operate in, or employ in, pyramiding.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!

Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between "it’s" and "its" in this crafty quiz!

Question 1 of 8

On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.

it's

its

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pyramid

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin pȳramid- (stem of pȳramis ), from Greek pȳramís; replacing Middle English pyramis, from Latin, as above

OTHER WORDS FROM pyramid

pyr·a·mid·like, adjective

Words nearby pyramid

pyourachus, pyoureter, pyr-, pyracantha, pyralid, pyramid, pyramidal, pyramidal bone, pyramidal cataract, pyramidal cell, pyramidal decussation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use pyramid in a sentence

They also are recreating ancient techniques themselves — from rolling pyramid rocks to testing out ancient tar recipes.
Let’s learn about ancient technology|Bethany Brookshire|September 15, 2020|Science News For Students
Societies can prepare for inversion of the population pyramid if they consider the different scenarios, but it will require long term planning.
How Rising Education for Women Is Shaping the Global Population - Facts So Romantic|Kiki Sanford|August 19, 2020|Nautilus
While those with higher incomes can afford to save more, “we can’t say the same about people who are at the bottom of the pyramid, which is a major chunk,” he says.
Could the Recession Revive the Savings Gene in China and India?|Pallabi Munsi|August 16, 2020|Ozy
ROMY is an upside-down pyramid of pipes, about the length of a telephone pole on each side.
A giant underground motion sensor in Germany tracks Earth’s wobbles|Maria Temming|July 17, 2020|Science News

The word “mummy” conjures images of gold-coated, bandage-wrapped bodies, hidden away in pyramids.
Let’s learn about mummies|Bethany Brookshire|July 8, 2020|Science News For Students
As the pyramid grew, the teen struggled to manage his responsibilities at home, in school and with his sham company.
He Bullies Kids and Calls It News|Brandy Zadrozny|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For 27 years, the 105 floors of Ryugyong Hotel, a monstrous three-winged, glass-and-concrete pyramid, have gone unused.
Nobody’s Home at the Hermit Kingdom’s Ghost Hotel|Nina Strochlic|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“This pyramid monster hotel will monopolize all the business in the city,” CEO Reto Wittwer said.
Nobody’s Home at the Hermit Kingdom’s Ghost Hotel|Nina Strochlic|May 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Musto covered the scene at the tiny Pyramid club on Avenue A, where RuPaul, Debbie Harry and Madonna performed and hung out.
'The Village Voice' Was Crazy to Fire Him: 5 Reasons Why Michael Musto Matters|Tricia Romano|May 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Finally, a pyramid constructed from Germany army helmets in New York City in 1918.
History Porn|Justin Green|March 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
MacRae stacked the dry wood in a neat pyramid twelve inches from the bare soles of Hicks' feet.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
By this time Jacques had filled his tray, had folded up the shining white table-cloth and placed it over his pyramid of plates.
A Butterfly on the Wheel|Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger Gull
The half-breed helped Helen dismount and told her to go to his tent, a small, pyramid affair at one end of the glade.
Mystery Ranch|Arthur Chapman
As it was, there would be time to send the toll-money to Pyramid Harbor and take all proper precautions.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail|Arthur R. Thompson
Suddenly above the breakwater appeared a black pyramid, growing bigger every moment; then another, then many.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.

British Dictionary definitions for pyramid

pyramid

/ (ˈpɪrəmɪd) /

noun

a huge masonry construction that has a square base and, as in the case of the ancient Egyptian royal tombs, four sloping triangular sides

an object, formation, or structure resembling such a construction

maths a solid having a polygonal base and triangular sides that meet in a common vertex

crystallog a crystal form in which three planes intersect all three axes of the crystal

anatomy any pointed or cone-shaped bodily structure or part

finance a group of enterprises containing a series of holding companies structured so that the top holding company controls the entire group with a relatively small proportion of the total capital invested

mainly US the series of transactions involved in pyramiding securities

(plural) a game similar to billiards with fifteen coloured balls

verb

to build up or be arranged in the form of a pyramid

mainly US to speculate in (securities or property) by increasing purchases on additional margin or collateral derived from paper profits associated with high prices of securities and property in a boom

finance to form (companies) into a pyramid

Derived forms of pyramid

pyramidal (pɪˈræmɪdəl), pyramidical or pyramidic, adjectivepyramidally or pyramidically, adverb

Word Origin for pyramid

C16 (earlier pyramis): from Latin pyramis, from Greek puramis, probably from Egyptian

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

Medical definitions for pyramid

pyramid

[ pĭr′ə-mĭd ]

A solid figure with a polygonal base and triangular faces that meet at a common point.

A structure or part shaped like a pyramid.

Other words from pyramid

py•ram′i•dal (pĭ-răm′ĭ-dl) adj.

pyramid

Origin of pyramid

OTHER WORDS FROM pyramid

Words nearby pyramid

Words related to pyramid

How to use pyramid in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pyramid

Derived forms of pyramid

Word Origin for pyramid

Medical definitions for pyramid

Other words from pyramid