steeple
[stee-puh l]
- 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.
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- to provide with or form into a steeple or steeplelike configuration.
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Origin of steeple
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for steepled
Historical Examples
Otherwise, Chair of Committees might have been steepled with my gore.
Alan steepled his fingers and tried to look serious and committed.
Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves TownCory Doctorow
As we neared the provincial city we saw the steepled mass of the cathedral, long and high, rise far into the cloud-freckled blue.
High on the steepled mountains is a wreath of filmy white that trails low in the ravines.
Trails Through Western WoodsHelen Fitzgerald Sanders
Smathers steepled his fingers over his abdomen and rubbed his fingertips together.
Cum Grano SalisGordon Randall Garrett
steeple
- 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
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Word Origin
Old English stēpel; see steep 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for steepled
steeple
n.
Old English stepel (Mercian), stiepel (West Saxon) "high tower" (related to steap "high, lofty"), from Proto-Germanic *staupilaz (see steep (adj.)).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper