steeple

[ stee-puh l ]
/ ˈsti pəl /

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.

Origin of steeple

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

OTHER WORDS FROM steeple

stee·pled, adjective stee·ple·less, adjective stee·ple·like, adjective un·stee·pled, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH steeple

spire steeple

Example sentences from the Web for steeple

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