pyre


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pyre

 (pīr)
n.
1. A heap of combustibles for burning a corpse as a funeral rite.
2. A pile of combustibles.

[Latin pyra, from Greek purā, from pūr, fire; see paəwr̥ in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pyre

(paɪə)
n
a heap or pile of wood or other combustible material, esp one used for cremating a corpse
[C17: from Latin pyra, from Greek pura hearth, from pur fire]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pyre

(paɪər)

n.
1. a pile or heap of wood or other combustible material.
2. such a pile for burning a dead body, esp. as part of a funeral rite.
[1650–60; < Latin pyra < Greek pyrá funeral pyre, derivative of pŷr fire]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.pyre - wood heaped for burning a dead body as a funeral ritepyre - wood heaped for burning a dead body as a funeral rite
cumulation, heap, pile, agglomerate, cumulus, mound - a collection of objects laid on top of each other
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
hranice
bålildligbål
lomača
halotti máglyamáglya
bálköstur; líkbál
rogus
sārts
eld
odun yığını

pyre

[ˈpaɪəʳ] Npira f (fig) → hoguera f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

pyre

[ˈpaɪər] nbûcher m funeral pyre
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

pyre

nScheiterhaufen m (zum Verbrennen von Leichen)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

pyre

[ˈpaɪəʳ] npira
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

pyre

(ˈpaiə) noun
a pile of wood on which a dead body is ceremonially burned. a funeral pyre
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
This could only be determined at the moment and the place themselves; but it was certain that the abduction must be made that night, and not when, at break of day, the victim was led to her funeral pyre. Then no human intervention could save her.
She saw this giant and perfect form writhing amid the flames of the burning pyre. She saw those smiling lips, burned and blackened, falling away from the strong, white teeth.
The Achaeans then bury Antilochus and lay out the body of Achilles, while Thetis, arriving with the Muses and her sisters, bewails her son, whom she afterwards catches away from the pyre and transports to the White Island.
They partially succeeded, but were severely wounded and retaken; then dragged to the blazing pyre, and burnt to death in the sight of their retreating comrades.
In the centre of that open space where he had caused the Boers to be fallen upon he had built up a great pyre of wood--brushwood beneath, and on top of the brushwood logs, and even whole trees.
I've been thinking we might make that brushwood into a pyre and burn his body--and those other things.
Esmeralda had removed her red apron and was waving it frantically above her head; but Clayton, still fearing that even this might not be seen, hurried off toward the northern point where lay his signal pyre ready for the match.
The sight was awe-inspiring in the extreme as one contemplated this mighty floating funeral pyre, drifting unguided and unmanned through the lonely wastes of the Martian heavens; a derelict of death and destruction, typifying the life story of these strange and ferocious creatures into whose unfriendly hands fate had carried it.
Hunt caused a huge pyre of pine wood to be made, which soon sent up a great column of flame that might be seen far and wide over the prairies.
A graceful cradle of willow, with all its dainty furbishings, was laid upon the pyre, which had already been fed with the richness of a priceless layette.
Moreover you must offer many prayers to the poor feeble ghosts, and promise them that when you get back to Ithaca you will sacrifice a barren heifer to them, the best you have, and will load the pyre with good things.
They cry aloud for the Princess of Helium and swear to leave Manator a blazing funeral pyre consuming the bodies of all our people.