51Թ

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View synonyms for

spire

1

[ spahyuhr ]

noun

  1. a tall, acutely pointed pyramidal roof or rooflike construction upon a tower, roof, etc.
  2. a similar construction forming the upper part of a steeple.
  3. a tapering, pointed part of something; a tall, sharp-pointed summit, peak, or the like:

    the distant spires of the mountains.

  4. the highest point or summit of something:

    the spire of a hill;

    the spire of one's profession.

  5. a sprout or shoot of a plant, as an acrospire of grain or a blade or spear of grass.


verb (used without object)

spired, spiring.
  1. to shoot or rise into spirelike form; rise or extend to a height in the manner of a spire.

spire

2

[ spahyuhr ]

noun

  1. a coil or spiral.
  2. one of the series of convolutions of a coil or spiral.
  3. Zoology. the upper, convoluted part of a spiral shell, above the aperture.

spire

1

/ 貹ɪə /

noun

  1. Also calledsteeple 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
  2. a slender tapering shoot or stem, such as a blade of grass
  3. the apical part of any tapering formation; summit
“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

verb

  1. intr to assume the shape of a spire; point up
  2. tr to furnish with a spire or spires
“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

spire

2

/ 貹ɪə; 貹ɪəˈrɪfərəs /

noun

  1. any of the coils or turns in a spiral structure
  2. the apical part of a spiral shell
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ辱, adjective
  • spiriferous, adjective
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • 辱l adjective
  • ܲ·辱iԲ adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of spire1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English spir(e), Old English ī “spike (of grain), blade (of grass)”; cognate with Middle Dutch spier, Middle Low German ī “shoot, sprout, sprig,” Old Norse īa “sٲ”

Origin of spire2

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin īa, from Greek î; spiral
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of spire1

Old English ī blade; related to Old Norse īa stalk, Middle Low German ī shoot, Latin īԲ thorn

Origin of spire2

C16: from Latin īa a coil, from Greek speira
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Around the city, the remains of crushed pagodas and golden spires line the streets.

From

There have been reports of widespread devastation in the Saigaing region and in Mandalay, where buildings have been flattened and temple spires toppled.

From

There have been reports of widespread devastation in the Saigaing region and Mandalay, including flattened buildings and temple spires toppled.

From

Another UK CEO told me of a visit to Huawei's Oxbridge-style campus complete with spires and bridges, and its own Tube line, purely for its scientists.

From

The fire destroying its wooden interiors before toppling its spire.

From

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