spire
1a 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.
to shoot or rise into spirelike form; rise or extend to a height in the manner of a spire.
Origin of spire
1Other words from spire
- spireless, adjective
- un·spir·ing, adjective
Words that may be confused with spire
- spire , steeple
Other definitions for spire (2 of 2)
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, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use spire in a sentence
"Very unlike your noble and awe-spiring mitre, Lion of Egypt," answered Ombos.
Strange Stories | Grant AllenThen turning, fired with her favour, he let his shrill voice go spiring to heaven in her praise.
The Life and Death of Richard Yea-and-Nay | Maurice HewlettThe tall clean shaft could not arrest those spiring movements, and the Serpent steadily ascended until he gained the fork.
My Dark Companions | Henry M. StanleyHere and there a monolith of stone stood up out from the main cliff, spiring for a hundred feet or more.
Rimrock Trail | J. Allan DunnThe tendency is to slender, spiring tops, while they are narrower below.
The Maine Woods | Henry David Thoreau
British Dictionary definitions for spire (1 of 2)
/ (spaɪə) /
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
(intr) to assume the shape of a spire; point up
(tr) to furnish with a spire or spires
Origin of spire
1Derived forms of spire
- spiry, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for spire (2 of 2)
/ (spaɪə) /
any of the coils or turns in a spiral structure
the apical part of a spiral shell
Origin of spire
2Derived forms of spire
- spiriferous (spaɪəˈrɪfərəs), adjective
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
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