steeple

[stee-puhl]

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.

verb (used with object)

steepled, steepling 

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

steeple

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of steeple¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of steeple¹

Old English stēpel; see _steep ¹

Example Sentences

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

Read more on 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.

Read more on 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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on BBC

There's also a pattern that even though these are Christmas cards, forget the snowy steeples and robins, because royal cards rarely seem to have any signs of winter.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cupola 
• minaret 
• spire 
• turret