lyre
[ lahyuh r ]
/ laɪər /
noun
a musical instrument of ancient Greece consisting of a soundbox made typically from a turtle shell, with two curved arms connected by a yoke from which strings are stretched to the body, used especially to accompany singing and recitation.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy.
the constellation Lyra.
Origin of lyre
1175–1225; Middle English
lire < Latin
lyra < Greek
lýra
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH lyre
liar lyreWords nearby lyre
lyotropic,
lypressin,
lyra,
lyra viol,
lyrate,
lyre,
lyre back,
lyre snake,
lyre-form sofa,
lyrebird,
lyric
Example sentences from the Web for lyre
British Dictionary definitions for lyre
lyre
/ (laɪə) /
noun
an ancient Greek stringed instrument consisting of a resonating tortoise shell to which a crossbar was attached by two projecting arms. It was plucked with a plectrum and used for accompanying songs
any ancient instrument of similar design
a medieval bowed instrument of the violin family
Word Origin for lyre
C13: via Old French from Latin
lyra, from Greek
lura