spire
1
[ spahyuh r ]
/ spaɪər /
noun
a 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.
verb (used without object), spired, spir·ing.
to shoot or rise into spirelike form; rise or extend to a height in the manner of a spire.
Origin of spire
1
before 1000; Middle English; Old English
spīr spike, blade; cognate with Middle Dutch
spier, Middle Low German
spīr shoot, sprout, sprig, Old Norse
spīra stalk
OTHER WORDS FROM spire
spire·less, adjective un·spir·ing, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH spire
spire steepleWords nearby spire
spiral-bound,
spiralize,
spiralizer,
spirant,
spirantize,
spire,
spirea,
spired,
spirelet,
spireme,
spires
Definition for spire (2 of 2)
spire
2
[ spahyuh r ]
/ spaɪər /
noun
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
spire·less, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for spire
British Dictionary definitions for spire (1 of 2)
spire
1
/ (spaɪə) /
noun
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
verb
(intr)
to assume the shape of a spire; point up
(tr)
to furnish with a spire or spires
Derived forms of spire
spiry, adjectiveWord Origin for spire
Old English
spīr blade; related to Old Norse
spīra stalk, Middle Low German
spīr shoot, Latin
spīna thorn
British Dictionary definitions for spire (2 of 2)
spire
2
/ (spaɪə) /
noun
any of the coils or turns in a spiral structure
the apical part of a spiral shell
Derived forms of spire
spiriferous (spaɪəˈrɪfərəs), adjectiveWord Origin for spire
C16: from Latin
spīra a coil, from Greek
speira