spire
1[ spahyuhr ]
/ spaɪər /
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noun
a tall, acutely pointed pyramidal roof or rooflike construction upon a tower, roof, etc.
a similar construction forming the upper part of a steeple.
a tapering, pointed part of something; a tall, sharp-pointed summit, peak, or the like: the distant spires of the mountains.
the highest point or summit of something: the spire of a hill; the spire of one's profession.
a sprout or shoot of a plant, as an acrospire of grain or a blade or spear of grass.
verb (used without object), spired, spir·ing.
to shoot or rise into spirelike form; rise or extend to a height in the manner of a spire.
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Origin of spire
1before 1000; Middle English; Old English spīr spike, blade; cognate with Middle Dutch spier,Middle Low German spīr shoot, sprout, sprig, Old Norse spīra stalk
OTHER WORDS FROM spire
spireless, adjectiveun·spir·ing, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH spire
spire , steepleDefinition for spire (2 of 2)
spire2
[ spahyuhr ]
/ spaɪər /
noun
a coil or spiral.
one of the series of convolutions of a coil or spiral.
Zoology. the upper, convoluted part of a spiral shell, above the aperture.
Origin of spire
2OTHER WORDS FROM spire
spireless, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for spire
British Dictionary definitions for spire (1 of 2)
spire1
/ (spaɪə) /
noun
Also called: steeple a tall structure that tapers upwards to a point, esp one on a tower or roof or one that forms the upper part of a steeple
a slender tapering shoot or stem, such as a blade of grass
the apical part of any tapering formation; summit
verb
(intr) to assume the shape of a spire; point up
(tr) to furnish with a spire or spires
Derived forms of spire
spiry, adjectiveWord Origin for spire
Old English spīr blade; related to Old Norse spīra stalk, Middle Low German spīr shoot, Latin spīna thorn
British Dictionary definitions for spire (2 of 2)
spire2
/ (spaɪə) /
noun
any of the coils or turns in a spiral structure
the apical part of a spiral shell
Derived forms of spire
spiriferous (spaɪəˈrɪfərəs), adjectiveWord Origin for spire
C16: from Latin spīra a coil, from Greek speira
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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