SPIRE • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Spire

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/spaɪr/ Listen

noun

Spire n.

1.

A slender stalk or blade in vegetation; as, a spire grass or of wheat. "An oak cometh up a little spire."

2.

A tapering body that shoots up or out to a point in a conical or pyramidal form. Specifically (Arch.), the roof of a tower when of a pyramidal form and high in proportion to its width; also, the pyramidal or aspiring termination of a tower which can not be said to have a roof, such as that of Strasburg cathedral; the tapering part of a steeple, or the steeple itself. "With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned." "A spire of land that stand apart, Cleft from the main." "Tall spire from which the sound of cheerful bells Just undulates upon the listening ear."

3.

(Mining) A tube or fuse for communicating fire to the chargen in blasting.

4.

The top, or uppermost point, of anything; the summit. "The spire and top of praises."

Spire n.

1.

A spiral; a curl; a whorl; a twist.

2.

(Geom.) The part of a spiral generated in one revolution of the straight line about the pole. See Spiral, n.

Spire bearer. (Paleon.) Same as Spirifer.

verb

Spire v. i. To breathe. (Obs.)

Spire v. i. (past & past part. spired; pres. part. spiring) To shoot forth, or up in, or as if in, a spire. "It is not so apt to spire up as the other sorts, being more inclined to branch into arms."

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Etymology of 'Spire'

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Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Spire" Quotes from Famous Books

... were very comfortably provided for in other covered boats. The king and queen had already arrived, and were in a large barge at the east bank of the river. This vessel, the form of which represented two huge fishes, was extremely splendid; every part of it was richly gilt; and a spire of at least thirty feet high, resembling in miniature that of the palace, rose in the middle. The king and queen sat under a green canopy at the bow of the vessel, which, according to Burman notions, is the place of honour; indeed, the only part ever occupied ...

— The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction - Volume 14, No. 395, Saturday, October 24, 1829. • Various

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... was building my new church, and talking about the tower and spire we were going to erect, an elderly Christian lady who was sitting in her wheel-chair, calmly listening to our conversation, said, "Will you begin to build your spire from the top?"* It was a strange question, but she evidently meant something, and looked for an answer. ...

— From Death into Life - or, twenty years of my ministry • William Haslam

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... of the surrounding country and a better hearing of the guns if possible. After a few words exchanged with the sexton—a staunch Italian, as he told us he was—we went up the ladder of the church spire. Once on the wooden platform, we could hear more distinctly the boom of the guns, which sounded like the broadsides of a big vessel. Were they the guns of Persano's long inactive fleet attacking some of Brondolo's ...

— The Shaving of Shagpat • George Meredith

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... they flew over the trees, and over the houses, over the windings of the Nidda. Walter could hear the tinkle tinkle of sheep bells below, or was it possible that he could already hear the bells of fairyland ringing? Over the church spire of a little village they soared, and all the children shouted: "Zeppelin! Zeppelin!" because you see all this happened in modern times, when even the children no ...

— Fairy Tales from the German Forests • Margaret Arndt

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... vista of trees and houses from the slope of our garden, W. V. saw the roof and spire of the church of the Oak-men showing well above the green huddle ...

— A Child's Book of Saints • William Canton

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