steeple

[ stee-puhl ]

/ ˈsti pəl /

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See synonyms for steeple on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

a tower terminating in such a construction.

(loosely) a spire.

verb (used with object), stee·pled, stee·pling.

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

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Origin of steeple

before 1000; Middle English stepel steeple, tower, Old English stēpel tower. See steep¹, -le

OTHER WORDS FROM steeple

steepled, adjectivestee·ple·less, adjectivestee·ple·like, adjectiveun·stee·pled, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH steeple

spire, steeple

Words nearby steeple

Steen, steenbok, steenbras, steep, steepen, steeple, steeplebush, steeplechase, steeplechaser, steeplechasing, steeple cup

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use steeple in a sentence

About a century later, the sport was adapted for purely human use in Britain, with athletes running from town to town, steeple to steeple, while surmounting the obstacles without the assistance of a horse.
The wet and wild history of steeplechase, Olympic track and field’s splashiest event|Matt Bonesteel|June 25, 2021|Washington Post
There were creeks for fresh water and floodwrack for firewood and the woods so thick you could practically sleep within sight of a church steeple or police station and no one would know.
Sebastian Junger on Walking America’s Railroads|Sebastian Junger|May 19, 2021|Outside Online
The tallest building in the town where I grew up might have been three stories—the church steeple probably was the tallest thing.
Charles Frazier in the Fast Lane|Malcolm Jones|October 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST
From the top of the Church steeple, the highest point in this prefabricated settlement, I could only gawk at the carnage below.
The Extinction Parade: An Original Zombie Story by Max Brooks|Max Brooks|January 14, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Note to Wall Street tourists: If you need to pee, look for the steeple.
Ringing in the New Year on Wall Street|Beau Willimon|January 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST
They walked along the track, picking out a church steeple here and there, forgetting for a moment the object of their search.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner
Before mounting to his bed in the steeple, he went to offer a pious prayer to the Lady of Le Puy.
The Merrie Tales Of Jacques Tournebroche|Anatole France
It has a very churchly look, and if the steeple were at the other end, it would be equally orthodox.
Our Churches and Chapels|Atticus
The original design includes a beautiful steeple, surmounted with pinnacles; but want of funds precludes its erection.
Our Churches and Chapels|Atticus
It is near the western edge of the village of Greenough, the gilt cupola of whose eminent steeple is noted by far-passing ships.
The Belted Seas|Arthur Colton

British Dictionary definitions for steeple

steeple

/ (ˈstiːpəl) /

noun

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

such a tower with the spire above it

any spire or pointed structure

Derived forms of steeple

steepled, adjective

Word Origin for steeple

Old English stēpel; see steep 1

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

steeple

Origin of steeple

OTHER WORDS FROM steeple

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH steeple

Words nearby steeple

Words related to steeple

How to use steeple in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for steeple

Derived forms of steeple

Word Origin for steeple