Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for spire

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, spir·ing.
  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

/ spaɪəˈrɪfərəs; spaɪə /

noun

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


spire

2

/ spaɪə /

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

verb

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

Discover More

Derived Forms

  • spiriferous, adjective
  • ˈspiry, adjective

Discover More

Other Words From

  • spireless adjective
  • un·spiring adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of spire1

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

Origin of spire2

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin spīra, from Greek speîra; spiral

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of spire1

C16: from Latin spīra a coil, from Greek speira

Origin of spire2

Old English spīr blade; related to Old Norse spīra stalk, Middle Low German spīr shoot, Latin spīna thorn

Discover More

Example Sentences

From town, you can cycle 32 miles to the towering spires of Smith Rock State Park, an underrated gem laced with trails for hiking and bolted routes for climbing.

Oregon’s under-the-radar Mill Creek Wilderness packs pointy rock spires, looming ridges, and sparse pines—the result of a wildfire in 2000—across its 17,173 acres.

Serrated ridges, pointed spires, and deep, dramatic valleys are in full view here, and the area’s many hiking trails, from the area’s 67 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail to short-but-scenic excursions like the seven-mile Snow Lake Trail.

Vantages into the inner gorge show clusters of sharp spires hewed from the dark Vishnu rock.

In Edinburgh, church spires and austere towers are “thinking awful Scottish thoughts, or plotting the downfall of reason.”

The New York Times noted that “the largest model of Spire looks a lot like a giant iPhone.”

“I think Spire is just the suffix,” said Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi.

The Spire rests on the same basic principal as the old-school fountains.

And as The New York Times reported in May, Marcus Theatres, a chain of movie theaters, has been testing the Spire in Wisconsin.

As part of a far-reaching partnership between Pepsi and Buffalo Wild Wings, the chain is rolling out Spire in its outlets.

The bells were clashing merrily from the village spire as the party passed out of the church porch.

In time the summit of the church spire disappeared from view, and for many years thereafter all trace of the hamlet was lost.

It is without tower or spire of considerable height and somewhat disappointing when viewed from the exterior.

Twenty miles more through a beautiful country brought us in sight of the cathedral spire of Norwich.

I wish the good people would knock off the top part of Antwerp Cathedral spire.

Advertisement

Related Words

Word of the Day

tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


spirantizespirea