pyre

American  

[pahy^uhr] / paɪər /

noun

1. a pile or heap of wood or other combustible material.

2. such a pile for burning a dead body, especially as part of a funeral rite, as in India.

---

pyre British  

/ paɪə /

noun

1. a heap or pile of wood or other combustible material, esp one used for cremating a corpse

---

Etymology

Origin of pyre

1650–60; < Latin pyra < Greek pyrá hearth, funeral pile

Explanation

Pyre rhymes with fire. It's also a noun for a large pile of stuff for burning. Most times a pyre is part of a funeral — the body is burned on it. From the Greek pura or pur, meaning "fire," pyre came into English in the 17th century. Pyr is also the Czech word for "hot ashes." Remember, a pyre isn't the fire itself but the stuff that helps the fire burn, as firewood at a campfire. People and animals are burned on a pyre as part of a traditional funeral ceremony in some countries.

Example Sentences

Blessedly, these ballerinas didn’t learn their skills in prison or the foster system, and their tutus are not fodder for a satanic pyre.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

He was born to pose backlit by a pyre of flaming zombies and does so here, with the hot wind tickling his locks perfectly.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2025

However, when the pyre was lit, the boy’s devotion to Lord Vishnu protected him and left him unscathed while Holika, despite her immunity, burned to death.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 22, 2024

In this case, the pyre was carefully sealed beneath a raft of two dozen bricks, arranged in four rows.

From New York Times • Mar. 25, 2023

As Jeanne tried to leap onto the pyre after Gwenforte, a soldier caught her by the shoulder and turned her around.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz