steeple

American  

[stee-puhl] / ˈsti pəl /

noun

1. an ornamental construction, usually ending in a spire, erected on a roof or tower of a church, public building, etc.

2. a tower terminating in such a construction.

3. (loosely) a spire.

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verb (used with object)

steepled, steepling

1. to provide with or form into a steeple or steeplelike configuration.

steeple British  

/ ˈstiːpəl /

noun

1. a tall ornamental tower that forms the superstructure of a church, temple, etc

2. such a tower with the spire above it

3. any spire or pointed structure

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Other Word Forms

• steepled adjective
• steepleless adjective
• steeplelike adjective
• unsteepled adjective

Etymology

Origin of steeple

before 1000; Middle English stepel steeple, tower, Old English stēpel tower. See steep ¹, -le

Example Sentences

The simple contour of a chapel, its steeple slightly off-center, stands out from the wall about six inches deep.

From Los Angeles Times

A motorized unit arriving to plant a flag on a church steeple and take a photo—then bolting immediately.

From The Wall Street Journal

We park with a view of the village church steeple backed by steely limestone peaks of the Pyrenees and lunch at a bar some feet away.

From Salon

I met my hosts at the restaurant’s entrance, made to look like a pueblo plaza complete with a huge water fountain, towering church steeple and a pink exterior better suited for a spoonful of Pepto-Bismol.

From Los Angeles Times

The earthquake brought down the church steeple and part of the roof.

From BBC

Related Words

• cupola
• minaret
• spire
• turret