spire
1[ spahyuh r ]
/ spaɪər /
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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orchard
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
spire·less, adjectiveun·spir·ing, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH spire
spire steepleWords nearby spire
spiral-bound, spiralize, spiralizer, spirant, spirantize, spire, spirea, spired, spirelet, spireme, spires
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for spiring
British Dictionary definitions for spiring (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 spiring (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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