spire
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spire 1
(spīr)n.
1. A top part or structure that tapers upward, such as a rock formation or steeple.
2. A slender, tapering plant part.
v. spired, spir·ing, spires
v.tr.
To furnish with a spire.
v.intr.
To rise and taper steeply.
[Middle English, from Old English spīr.]
spire 2
(spīr)n.
1.
a. A spiral.
b. A single turn of a spiral; a whorl.
2. The area farthest from the aperture and nearest the apex on a coiled gastropod shell.
[Latin spīra, coil, from Greek speira.]
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.
spire
(spaɪə)n
1. (Architecture) 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
2. (Botany) a slender tapering shoot or stem, such as a blade of grass
3. the apical part of any tapering formation; summit
vb
4. (intr) to assume the shape of a spire; point up
5. (Building) (tr) to furnish with a spire or spires
[Old English spīr blade; related to Old Norse spīra stalk, Middle Low German spīr shoot, Latin spīna thorn]
spire
(spaɪə)n
1. any of the coils or turns in a spiral structure
2. (Zoology) the apical part of a spiral shell
[C16: from Latin spīra a coil, from Greek speira]
spiriferous adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
spire1
(spaɪər)n., v. spired, spir•ing. n.
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. See illus. at steeple.
3. a tall, sharp-pointed summit, peak, or the like.
4. the highest point or summit.
5. a sprout or shoot of a plant.
v.i. 6. to shoot or rise into spirelike form.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English spīr spike, blade, c. Middle Dutch spier, Middle Low German spīr shoot, sprig, Old Norse spīra stalk]
spired, adj.
spire2
(spaɪər)n.
1. a coil or spiral.
2. one of the series of convolutions of a spiral.
3. Zool. the upper, convoluted part of a spiral shell, above the aperture.
[1565–75; < Latin spīra < Greek speîra; see spiral]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
spire
- In Old English, it meant "stalk" or "stem."See also related terms for stalk.
spire
, steeple - A spire is the tall pointed roof of a tower or the tall pointed structure on top of a steeple; a steeple is the tower plus the spire.See also related terms for tower.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
spire
Past participle: spired
Gerund: spiring
| Imperative |
|---|
| spire |
| spire |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  spire - a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the topchurch service, church - a service conducted in a house of worship; "don't be late for church" pinnacle - (architecture) a slender upright spire at the top of a buttress of tower tower - a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
spire
noun steeple, turret, pillar, column, skyscraper, belfry, obelisk He saw the spire ahead through the trees.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
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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
spire
(ˈspaiə) noun a tall, pointed tower, especially one built on the roof of a church. aguja
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
spire
→ agujaMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009